World Tourist Destinations

When you think of Malaysia, it's usually the pretty peninsular part that instantaneously comes to mind, the one which stretches from Thailand to Singapore. What many people don't realise (or know) is that East Malaysia, also known as Sabah and Sarawak or Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia located on the island of Borneo (which is, interestingly, the third largest island in the world!). It consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. It lies to the east from Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia), which is located on the Malay Peninsula. The two are separated by the South China Sea. While East Malaysia is less populated and probably less developed than West Malaysia, its land mass is larger and its locations are a lot prettier. East Malaysia contains the five highest mountains in Malaysia. It also contains the two longest rivers.

Sabah
Sabah, which lies on the northern tip of Borneo, has some of the world's best natural wonders. From the soaring Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,095 meters is also the highest mountain in Borneo and the 10th in Southeast Asia, to pristine rainforests, beaches, wildlife and underwater spectacles, Sabah is nature's veritable paradise.
The world famous Lok Kawi Wildlife Park offers visitors the chance to see Borneo's wildlife up close. The animals at the park are split into three main habitat areas. The orang-utans, bats, snakes and eagles live in the forest canopy zone while large animals such as sun bears and elephants are put in the forest floor zone. Gibbons, turtles, crocodiles and monkeys can all be found at the water edge enclosures.
Sabah’s stunning wildlife and lanscapes make it one of the top spots for travellers from all walks of life.

Sarawak
Malaysia's largest state, Sarawak, lies on the northwest side of Borneo.
Explore the historic city of Kuching (its administrative capital) and discover the legends of the White Rajahs, visit Gunung Mulu National Park, or seek an authentic jungle experience - Sarawak has a fascinating array of attractions..
Known as the 'Land of the Hornbills', Sarawak is known for its rivers and the longboats used to travel these water highways to the deep interiors. Here you will find the land of 'head-hunters and hornbills', where you can be hospitably entertained. While in Sarawak, don't miss the Rainforest World Music Festival, the region's premier world music event that attracts more than 20,000 music fans every year.
A land of calm and tranquillity, Sarawak invites you to experience a colourful ethnic diversity. It is sure to entice you off the beaten track.

Langkawi
Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands separated from mainland Malaysia by the Straits of Malacca, is a district of the state of
Kedah in Northern Malaysia.
Offering some of the worlds best kept secrets - secluded coves and long stretches of white sandy beaches, Langkawi is an escape from the hustle of city life. The archipelago is famous for its white beaches and relaxed island life. However, the jewels in the tourism crown are also the Langkawi Geopark and its natural treasures of serrated mountains
that are home to a vast array of birds, butterflies,
reptiles and animals.
Langkawi is especially recognised for its excellent diving opportunities and hides a treasure trove of other exciting holiday opportunities. From the expansive Underwater World Langkawi along Pantai Cenang to the soaring Cable Car in Pantai Kok, it is an electrifying location that keeps visitors coming back for more. It is also the regional shopping hub for duty-free goods, offering both international and local products.

Penang
A state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, Penang is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca.
Penang has been ranked by Yahoo! Travel as one of the '10 Islands to Explore Before You Die' and listed in Patricia Schultz's bestselling '1,000 Places to See Before You Die' travel book. Visited by Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, Noël Coward and Queen Elizabeth II among many others, Penang has always been a popular tourist destination, both domestically and internationally. It is known for its rich heritage, multicultural society and its vibrant culture, its hills, parks, and beaches, shopping, and good food.
The most popular beaches in Penang are located at Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi, and Teluk Bahang, and these contiguous beaches are home to Penang's famed hotel and resort belt. More secluded are Muka Head, which hosts a lighthouse and a marine research station, and Monkey Beach - both within the Penang National Park.

What's the first image that comes to mind when you think of a 'Destination Wedding'? More often than not, it'll be lush tropical islands kissed by the sun. When it comes to white sandy beaches and blue crystal waters, there are few better locations than Hawaii, Bali, Mauritius, Maldives and the Caribbean. And while each of the above mentioned is truly a tropical paradise, a new challenger is steadily rising to the fore, knocking over the competition and etching its place as the number one wedding destination in the world. Welcome to Malaysia - the ultimate dream location for your wedding.
Why Malaysia? The reasons are numerous. But let's examine what we believe are five distinct advantages that this amazing country holds over its competitors…

1. Price Factor
When it comes to India, you just can't take the 'price' factor out of the equation. Every Indian - and that includes the crème-de-la-crème - wants the best product for a competitive rate. Where weddings are concerned, costs simply tend to escalate. Malaysia offers the best value for money when it comes to hotel accommodation, honeymoon packages, wedding coordinator, catering, etc. For example, cost of a room in a five star hotel can be almost 40% less than in India. Then again, when you're shopping - be it imported goods or locally made products, you're sure to get a lot more your money's worth. And that makes perfect sense because nobody wants to risk starting their marriage in debt.

2. Proximity To India
The distance between India and Malaysia is 3,810.7 km (2,367.8 mi). Approximate flight duration time from Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai is a little under 5 hours. And that means if you take the night flight from India, you'll still arrive in the wee hours of morning in Malaysia, fresh as a daisy. And no jetlag that Europe and the Americas bring!

3. Beautiful Beaches
Malaysia has a gorgeous coastline to tempt even the most jaded traveller. Blessed with a tropical climate all year through, it has scores of island and beach resorts situated both in peninsular Malaysia and Eastern Malaysia that rival the ones in Thailand and Indonesia. Beneath the warm coral seas, world-class dive sites await exploration. Being relatively unknown, you are quite likely to discover cheaper and unspoilt virgin destinations that are waiting to be explored. More sun, sand, and sea is what Malaysia promises - and delivers as well. That's enough reason to continue your honeymoon here!

4. Delectable Cuisine
According to the Lonely Planet travel guide, Malaysia has 'one of the best assortments of delicious cuisines in the world. True indeed! Malaysia is hands down one of the finest destinations in the world to satisfy any culinary yearning. The dynamic mixture of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines are just a few of the popular influencing flavours. Many Malay dishes revolve around a rempah, which is a spice paste or mix similar to Indian masalas, which are made by grinding up fresh or dried spices and herbs to create a spice paste which is then sautéed in oil to bring out the aromas. During your Malaysia stay, do try the Nasi Lemak, Nasi Dagang, Roti Canai, Nasi Goreng, Curry Laksa and Satay. One thing's for certain - your wedding guests will be left licking their fingers.

5. A Multicultural Society
Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures. Comprised of two regions separated by 640 miles of the South China Sea, with Peninsular Malaysia to the west and Malaysian Borneo to the east, the country is a federation of 13 states that is home to an estimated population of nearly 30 million people belonging to different ethnicities. So how about incorporating a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in your wedding? Or have Malay music played in the background of your reception? Or having a traditional Malaysian wedding? By blending different cultures together, it will guarantee a truly memorable and extraordinary wedding experience.

For well-heeled Indians - and you're certain to find a teeming swarm of this species in a country of 1.2 billion - there simply isn't any upper limit when it comes to spending on a wedding celebration. An Indian wedding is a status symbol, and families often save for years to host a big fat one. 'The bigger it is, the better it is!' That seems to be the operative mantra as far as we Indians are concerned. When it comes to planning a wedding, everything has to be lavish and larger than life - be it the sangeet ceremony, hotel accommodation for guests, the rituals, fireworks, festivities, celebrity appearances (and that may include live jigs by Bollywood stars), or the exotic honeymoon location - for this big-money magnum opus.
And what about the global economic slowdown that has ripped into incomes and reined in extravagant spends the world over? GFC be damned; Indian weddings, as we know, are recession-proof, as the rich and famous will stop at nothing to host an unforgettable event.
The latest trend that seems to have caught the fancy of Indian couples-to-be and wedding planners alike is destination weddings, wherein the entire ceremony and celebrations are shifted to a vacation-like setting at an fancy location to which the invited guests must travel and stay for a few days. This could range from an exotic beach experience in the tropics; an idyllic retreat in the mountains, or a lavish event in a metropolitan resort. Today, the Indian wedding has well and truly hit the road with each party trying to outdo the other. Evidently, there's distance that can't be bridged - the favourite wedding destinations for Indian couples include far-flung locales like Switzerland, France, Dubai, Thailand, Macau Mauritius and Maldives.
Malaysia is quickly emerging as one of most hip and happening wedding destinations of the world. For Indian couples looking for something out of the ordinary with a dash of exotica, a Malaysia wedding may well be a classic recipe. Combining jaw-dropping natural landscape and scenery, mist-covered valleys and mountains, fantastical, often totally secluded beaches and deep green lagoons; Malaysia weddings offer the chance to tie the knot in an enchanted land. Each and every one of Malaysia's many resorts, including the world-renowned Penang and Langkawi, is imbued with the spirituality of past and present generations - and a Malaysia wedding ceremony is sure to reflect the local philosophy of achieving peace and tranquillity perfectly in tune with your surroundings.
A former British colony, Malaysia comprises of the mainland peninsula; and the eastern states on the island of Borneo in the heart of South-East Asia. These are separated by the South China Sea with 11 states and 2 federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) in peninsular Malaysia and two states and 1 federal territory (Labuan) in East Malaysia.
Being a land of fascinating sights and attractions, Malaysia never fails to leave its visitors in awe. From pristine rainforests to breathtaking mountains, unspoiled islands to amazing underwater kingdoms, bird watching wetlands to mega shopping bonanza, wherever you go the diversity of Malaysia guarantees you good memories that will last you a lifetime. Especially if you're planning to get married or have your honeymoon there!

It is bright and early in the morning when we walk into Go Air's Mumbai offices to catch up with the CEO, who took over the reins of the low-cost carrier in mid-2011. Even though the Indian aviation industry has been experiencing turbulence, De Roni believes that there are also many positive aspects to bank on. "India is a dynamic market with a growth rate that is the highest in the world, which is extremely positive. Purchasing power of the middle-class is growing and although the overall economy may have slowed down, the Indian economy is growing faster than the rest of the world," he says.
That said, De Roni, who has been in the
aviation industry for close to three decades, is also aware of the problems that the Indian market brings with it. With an archaic legal framework, that needs revision and a heavy burden of taxes, running an airline in India is costlier than the rest of the world. "To cite an example, the cost of fuel per hour is $4000 in India while the same aircraft's cost per hour in other parts of the world — high oil prices notwithstanding — is $3000. If we could have the ATF (jet fuel) price similar to global markets, we can offer competitive fares to our customers and increase the opportunity for the market. I believe that aviation and airlines, both can significantly contribute to the development of the economy because it brings tourists, foreign currency and additional employment," he says.
De Roni feels that the past year's massive hike in airport fees — more than 300% within a year — was something the aviation industry had never experienced. Airlines have had to shoulder the sudden increase in royalty by airports (as much as 30% within a span of one day) because it can't be transferred to the customer. "These fluctuations create a difficult situation for the airlines," he explains. However, De Roni believes in keeping a clear demarcation of responsibilities. "Airlines should focus on their industrial business plan, while the policy revision should be left to the government. However, I do hope that there will be some revision to fix the weaknesses in the system," he further adds.
The CEO goes back to the beginning where he started as a check-in agent at an Italian airport in 1983. "Over the last three decades, I have expanded my experience across various areas of the industry like sales, aircraft leasing, fleet strategy etc."
De Roni lives at a walking distance from his office, "I spend all the time saved in the office!" he confesses, with a radiant smile. "As the chief executive, during the work week I have to interact with my staff, clients, and investors. Weekends bring me an opportunity to think about strategy and future of the company. And I enjoy my work immensely."
Globally, the airline industry has seen a lot of changes over the last few decades, and De Roni feels that these have been beneficial especially for the Indian market. "When I joined the airline business in 1983, it was very different. Today, it has become a tougher industry. Over the decades, the change in regulations has brought a lot of benefits to the customer, but at the same time, it has become a challenging environment for the employees," he says. "This is nothing out of the ordinary, because it also happens in other sectors and industries. So, we must be ready and open to change. In India, we have a young generation willing to work hard and I appreciate the support I get from my staff," he smiles.
Even though he spends most weekends working, De Roni does take the time out to travel across India and is slightly partial to the mountains up north. "I was born in Italy near the border with Austria and I belong to a mountainous region of Italy. Trekking in the mountains of India is one of the things I enjoy a lot. My family lives in Milan, but they visit often, so I take time off to travel with them. I don't come to office during those weekends," he laughs. During his last trip to Jammu and Kashmir, De Roni was mesmerised by the beauty of the region.
He feels that there is a need for stronger awareness internationally about India as a destination and about India's airlines. "The potential for tourism in India is tremendous and hasn't been exploited fully. If I am not mistaken, Sri Lanka has a higher tourism inflow as compared to India, which is baffling because we have so much more to offer," he says.
Speaking about the airline's future plans, De Roni says, "The present regulations do not allow Go Air to fly internationally, because there is a minimum requirement of 20 aircraft and we currently operate only 13. So, we have written to the ministry of civil aviation for the waiver of this constraint. We have also placed an order for additional 80 aircraft." De Roni thinks that if this waiver comes through, it will prove to be a huge opportunity for the industry. International airlines with four to five aircraft are allowed to fly to India but Indian airlines are not allowed to fly outside of the country, due to the fleet requirement. But even though Go Air will tap international opportunities, the focus of the airline will remain domestic. "Our focus in the coming years will be strengthening our network within India," he asserts.
With a getaway planned in the mountains next week with his wife, De Roni is looking forward to explore Jammu and Kashmir for the third time. "There are so many places to visit in India. I don't have the time to visit all of them but sometime in the future…" he says with a smile, as he bids us goodbye and rushes into another meeting.

London’s Alexandra Palace is not just a heritage sight, but also a prime tourist spot for the Olympics
As the last week of the Olympics sets in, all eyes remain on London and the Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) which is playing host to the Dutch for the 11th consecutive year. The Palace has been converted into a house, where Dutch athletes, supporters, sponsors and media can gather during the games to follow, participate and support their teams.
The Ally Pally is approximately 20 minutes from the city centre and Olympic Village has been the centre of music, sport and events for over 130 years. The venue is bursting with culture and heritage that no other destination in London can offer. The seven acre palace is surrounded by 196 acres of beautiful parkland, and grounds that boast a pub; restaurant, boating lake, pitch, putt course, and a panoramic view of the London skyline.
It provides an ideal setting for live and pre-recorded broadcast footage. Entertainment is varied, including sports activities, bars and restaurants and appearances by top DJs and performers from The Netherlands. In addition a large hall where the medal ceremonies for athletes and performances will take place, the opening and closing ceremonies of the games and all the live sporting action will be shown on large screens.