HOW TO SELL KUALA LUMPUR
KUALA LUMPUR Enticing
BY JONATHAN HART Kuala Lumpur is a key holiday hub in
the Far East for UK clients. Popularly known as 'KL', the capital of Malaysia is both a major transit stop on the Kangaroo Route to Australia/New Zealand and the start or end point for touring the region. KL is also an enticing destination in its
own right. Cosmopolitan, safe and English speaking, it adds up top the ideal introduction to the Far East for first-time travellers to the area. The city combines the sights, sounds
and scents of old Asia, its dynamic, modern skyline peppered with parks and gardens and Moorish or old colonial architecture. Compact and welcoming, with everyday services and facilities similar to the UK, it is easy for clients to quickly absorb and get around. The city is also easily accessible to
cruise passengers from Port Klang. Formerly a sleepy tropical backwater
(Kuala Lumpur means ‘Muddy Estuary’), KL today is one of the most high-tech, high-powered centres in the Far East, with cutting-edge hotels and transport. In refreshing contrast, it retains a gentler pace of life than most major centres. A big bonus for UK clients is that KL is
frequently more competitively priced than other regional capitals, thanks to a favourable exchange rate between the pound and Ringgit, or Malaysian dollar. Seasonal ticket offers by Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia from the UK are additional lures for budget-conscious clients as well as for both tour operator
General Information TIME: GMT+8
VISA: Not required by UK citizens for visits of up to three months
CLIMATE: Tropical. Hot and humid year- round
GETTING THERE: Malaysia Airlines from Heathrow and Manchester (www.
malaysiaairlines.com) and Air Asia from Stansted (
www.airasia.com)
CONTACT: Tourism Malaysia, Tel: 020 7930 7932,
www.tourism.gov.my or
info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk
or dynamic packaging. Shopping is a big attraction in KL. The city is awash with designer mega malls and indoor or outdoor markets catering to all tastes and pockets. Together with cool cafes, bars and nightlife, the same areas include another principal KL attraction: food. A huge choice of restaurants reflects the multi- cultural nature of the city, serving everything from the freshest street food to elaborate feasts at low prices. The centre can easily be explored on
foot or by well-integrated monorail and rapid transit systems. Plentiful metered taxis are also available at low cost. Key sights include the sky-reaching
Petronas Twin Towers; the 1,380ft KL Tower, topped by an observation deck, and the Moorish or old colonial buildings flanking Independence Square. In addition, the National Museum,
Royal Palace, National Monument, Lake Gardens and Jamek Mosque can all be viewed on a half-day city excursion. The Hindu shrine Batu Caves, Royal
Selangor Pewter Factory and a batik factory are among popular excursions. Top-ranking four- or five-star hotel choices include the Ritz-Carlton,
KUALA LUMPUR What's New...
• New centrally-located hotels include The Doubletree by Hilton, MiCasa All Suites and the villa- in-room concept at Samadhi Retreats
• The Regent Kuala Lumpur and Regent Residences, opening in mid-2012
• The Secret Garden at I Utama Shopping Centre is a vast rooftop sanctuary showcasing 500 species of exotic flora
• The Jungle Boardwalk at KLIA features a landscaped garden with forest trees and sculptured waterfall in the central hub of the Satellite Building
Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Traders, Parkroyal and Dorsett Regency, together with a network of budget and homestay options. A year-round calendar of festivals and
events includes Colours of Malaysia in May (see main picture), the Sunburst KL International Music Festival (rock, hip- hop, dance, pop and jazz), and annual F1 Grand Prix (April) at the Sepang Circuit. Sepang is also home to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), a 50kms, 30-min express train transfer from the city’s Central station (KL Sentral), or one-hour bus or taxi journey. The separate Low Cost Carrier
Terminal, for Air Asia flights, is a 30-min train ride from the main terminal and connected with KL Sentral by bus.
Where To Book It INSPIRED BY ASIA – 01423 704118
www.inspiredbyasia.co.uk Stay two nights at the Ritz-Carlton during a seven-day self-drive Best of Malaysia tour including KL, Malacca and the Cameron Highlands from £599pp.
Kuala Lumpur's contrasting faces, from the bustling street market of Petaling Street to the city's soaring skyline, all infused with a friendly Malaysian welcome
www.sellinglonghaul.com • May 2011 53
©STEVE HARTRIDGE BMI PUBLISHING
TOURISM MALAYSIA
Top Tip
Slow down and take it easy in the heat. Explore by foot and cool off in cafes with outdoor air conditioners
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68