malaysia 67
F
or many travellers, the real clincher when choosing Malaysia is the country’s all-round package of experiences it offers: from postcard-
beaches to unusual wildlife to its fascinating ethnic mix. The blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian inhabitants – a legacy of both trading and colonialism – as well as indigenous groups means that an abundance of cultural experiences awaits visitors. What’s more, Malaysia is a great place
to ease into a region that can seem confusing and at times chaotic. “English is widely spoken,” says Spencer
Neal, Head of UK Trade Sales for Intrepid Travel, “making it easy to communicate with service providers, learn about the destination and engage with locals.” Megan Devenish, the Borneo Product Manager
for Exodus, agrees and points out that “the tourist infrastructure is more developed than most of its neighbouring countries”. The fi rst decision facing customers is whether
to stick to the peninsula or take in the island of Borneo, the north of which is mostly Malaysian territory, or to
spend time in both. Broadly speaking, the peninsula is the best choice for cities and beaches while Borneo is a must for wildlife enthusiasts and visitors interested in traditional tribal cultures. Most will fl y
at Hayes & Jarvis, “with orang-utans and bird watching and trekking in places like Mount Kinabalu. ” Diving has also been a major draw in Sabah, but
the Foreign and Commonwealth Offi ce is currently warning against travel to world-famous Sipadan. Specialist operator Regaldive (
regal-diving.co.uk)
recommends the small atoll of Layang Layang, also off the coast of Sabah, as an alternative. This year’s two Malaysia Airlines disasters have,
of course, had a negative impact on tourism., but most operators echo Matt Clift when he says that “we have seen a drop off, but that is to be expected. It’s still early days, but we do still have customers wishing to travel to Malaysia and we are optimistic for the year ahead.”
What’s new Airlines: British Airways (
batraveltrade.com) is to
operate direct fl ights between Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur next summer for the fi rst time
“If customers want to explore by land, rather than flying, then Malaysia is fantastic. Travellers can fly into Kuala Lumpur then travel overland to the Cameron Highlands before getting the
boat to Pangkor and Penang” MATT CLIFT, DESTINATION MANAGER FOR MALAYSIA, HAYES & JARVIS
into the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on the peninsula, and discover one of the region’s most dynamic cities. “The Petronas Towers and shopping opportunities are a huge draw card for Kuala Lumpur,” says Oscar Lopero, Travel 2 Product Manager, “while further up the west coast Penang is a must-visit for its culture and food hawker centres. The beaches on the island of Langkawi are also not to be missed.” South of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka has a long
history of trade and a fascinating Chinatown. There are opportunities to head into the jungle on the peninsula, notably the Taman Negara National Park, but it’s in Borneo that visitors will fi nd the real deal. Highlights of the westernmost state, Sarawak, include the stunning caves of Gunung Mulu National Park; Sabah state, in the east of Borneo, has the best wildlife watching. “The key attraction for me is the wildlife,” says Matt Clift, Destination Manager for Malaysia
Previous page: The rainforest in Malaysian Borneo attracts visitors for its wildlife, including orangutans. Next page: the Petronas twin towers light up the night sky in Kuala Lumpur
since 2001. The service begins on May 27. Accommodation: New Kuala Lumpur hotels include the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur (
starwoodhotels.com/ stregis), which will open November 1 in the Sentral district close to attractions like the National Museum and Lake Gardens. It will include three fi ne dining restaurants and a spa. The Accor hotel
chain is expanding its presence in Malaysia, aiming to open four hotels this year. The Ibis Styles Sandakan Waterfront (with 135 rooms) and the Ibis Styles Ipoh (with 113 rooms) are already open (
ibisstyleshotel.ibis.com). The new Ritz Carlton resort (
ritzcarlton.com) in
Langkawi has 132 rooms, including 42 villas, and is set on its own private beach in the south west corner of the island. It’s a family-friendly resort with three swimming pools, including one specially created for children, and a Ritz Kids Club. There’s also a spa with a hammam. �Destinations: Hayes and Jarvis (
hayesandjarvis.co.uk) has added the island of Redang for 2015. Already popular with tourists from within the region, it’s an attractive island with some very good scuba diving and snorkelling.
sellingtravel.co.uk
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