TOURISM MALAYSIA MELBOURNE CONCLUDES ROADSHOWS IN VICTORIA, TASMANIA

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia Melbourne has just concluded an
outstanding roadshow to several provincial and regional centres in the states of
Victoria and Tasmania.

The aim of the two-month campaign, backed by Malaysia Airlines (MAS), is to
stimulate interest in travel to Malaysia and to highlight and showcase the
destinations to the travel industry in the thriving and prosperous regional
centres - away from the big cities.

The annual event, which began after Tourism Malaysia opened an office here
in October 2005, has since grown in importance and has been well-received by
regional travel agents and tour operators.

The Tourism Malaysia Melbourne office coordinated with several key
wholesalers in the market to travel with the roadshows so that regional agents
had access to their Malaysia product.

The wholesalers that took part were Creative Holidays, Malaysia Holidays,
Discovering Borneo, Golden Holidays, Travel Indochina, Adventure Destinations,
Explore Holidays, Freestyle Holidays, Adventure World and Viva Holidays.

The roadshows were held at Frankston, Geelong, Warrnambool, Traralgon,
Shepparton, Bendigo and Ballarat, all in the state of Victoria, and Launceston
and Hobart in Tasmania.

Agents from nearby towns attended the shows. A final event was held here on
Oct 30. Comments from attendees were positive and encouraging.

"Another fabulous show from Tourism Malaysia," said Meryl Edwards of
Travelscene in the petroleum-rich city of Sale, near Traralgon.

"Tuesday night was well organised and very informative for me. Malaysia is
a
place I would love to visit," said Chelsea Ambrose, from Travel Plus Travel
Services of Warragul.

Brigette Richards, from Coopers Travel Centre in Bairnsdale, also near
Traralgon, said: "I was the one at the end of the night begging and pleading for
you to send me your presentation and any additional information to know more
about Malaysia."

"It was great to catch up with some suppliers," said Jeff Dimand of FBI
Travel in Melbourne.

Several travel agents said Tourism Malaysia having an office in Melbourne
was very convenient for them and much appreciated.

At the roadshows, Tourism Malaysia and MAS gave presentations on
airline products and destination information to enhance Malaysia products
promoted by wholesalers.

The evenings were a tremendous success with many agents travelling over an
hour to attend the shows.

Prizes in the way of accommodation prizes around Malaysia from such
establishments as Shangri-la Hotels & Resorts, Parkroyal Hotels,
Starwood Hotels, The Berjaya Group, GHM Group, Crowne Plaza Hotels, Holiday Inn
Hotels, Sunway Hotels & Resort, Bayview Beach Resort Penang, Equatorial Hotel
Group were offered as lucky prizes at the shows.

In addition, MAS sponsored return economy class tickets to Malaysia which
were complimented by land touring prizes sponsored by Adventure World and
Wildlife Expeditions, GAP Adventures, Adventure Destinations and Travel
Indochina.

Tourism Malaysia or Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) is an authorized
board that operates under the Ministry of Tourism (MOT). It promotes Malaysia as
a tourist destination for foreign tourists.
-- BERNAMA