TEE-OFF IN MALAYSIA AT ONE OF 200 GOLF COURSES

With numerous courses constructed by world-renowned designers and fair weather conditions year round, it is no wonder that Malaysia is fast becoming South-East Asia’s golfing paradise. There are now over 200 golf courses in Malaysia, 50 of which are of international standard, and with such diverse and scenic terrain; Malaysia offers a memorable golfing vacation for all.

Many resorts have been designed by world renowned golfing wonders like Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent-Jones, Max Wexler, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Ted Parslow. Golfers can tee off in the rolling landscapes next to the jungle, overlooking the South China Sea, or nestled amongst the sky scrapers in 1 of the 26 courses that are less than a 45 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. Penang boasts a further 5 luscious golf resorts and the islands of Langkawi have 2 courses renowned for their panoramic views. Such high standard courses has resulted in events such as the Malaysian Open to be hosted and sanctioned by the Asia PGA Tour as well as the European PGA tour, The Volvo Masters of Asia and the first ever IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention.

Not only does Malaysia have a plethora of diverse courses and resorts, it is also affordable. One item of golfing equipment with a maximum weight of 15kg will be carried free with Malaysia Airlines and green fees range from £6 to £85, offering something for everyone, compared to an average green fee of £34 in the UK. Malaysia’s golfing resorts have also been developed with a keen eye for world-class amenities and great surrounding holiday attractions for a well-rounded vacation.

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For more information please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell/Alicia Iglesias Cortes
Email:flo@representationplus.co.uk/alicia@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Visit: www.tourism.gov.my

To download the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board press pack please visit www.representationplus.co.uk and follow the links to our online press room.
Follow Malaysia on Twitter - @malaysiauk

For more information on Golfing Packages, please visit MGTA: Visit: http://www.golftourismmalaysia.com/

Malaysia To Host First Ever IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention

Tourism Malaysia will host the first ever IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention at the Mines Resort and Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur on the 22-25 of April. For 3 days, 150 golf tour operators from 38 different countries will be brought together with a plethora of golf resorts, courses and hotels to network and start new business relations.

Giles Greenwood, the Golf Tourism Development Director at IAGTO, expresses why he thinks Malaysia is the perfect candidate for the convention: "Malaysia is an ideal golf destination with over 200 courses to choose from in a variety of different landscapes. I was particularly impressed with the high standard of the courses which is why we chose Malaysia to host our first ever Asia Golf Tourism Convention on 22-25 April 2012."

Malaysia’s increasing popularity with golfers of all nationalities and standards brought about the launch of the MGTA (Malaysia Golf Tourism Association) last year to further develop golf tourism, of which the IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention plays an essential part of the strategy.

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For more information please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell/Alicia Iglesias Cortes
Email:flo@representationplus.co.uk/alicia@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Visit: www.tourism.gov.my
To download the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board press pack please visit www.representationplus.co.uk and follow the links to our online press room.
Follow Malaysia on Twitter - @malaysiauk

For more information on Golfing Packages, please visit MGTA: Visit: http://www.iagto.com/Public/TravelIndustry/AsiaConvention12/Public.aspx

For more information on the IAGTO Conference please visit: http://www.iagto.com/Public/TravelIndustry/AsiaConvention12/Public.aspx

TWO AMAZING HOLIDAYS TO BE WON TO MALAYSIA AT THE LONDON DESTINATIONS SHOW

Visit Tourism Malaysia (stand AP12) at The Destinations Show at Earls Court, London to be in with a chance to win one of two amazing holidays to Malaysia. All stand visitors can enter including media and the travel trade and find out about Malaysia’s exciting festivals and events planned for 2012 and why you should be planning your next holiday in Malaysia.

The first competition offers stand visitors the chance to win a nine night holiday to Malaysia courtesy of Tourism Malaysia and Trailfinders, the travel experts. This fantastic prize includes return international flights from London to Kuala Lumpur, two nights at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, return flights across the South China Sea to Borneo, three nights at the five-star Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa and four nights at the five-star Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort, Borneo.

The second competition is the chance to win a fabulous five night holiday courtesy of Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and the Hard Rock Penang Hotel with return international flights from London for two and five nights at the luxury resort situated along the famous beaches of Batu Ferringhi.

Malaysia is a fascinating holiday destination offering something for everyone to enjoy with three distinct destinations in the country, Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia. The long coastline and many coral-fringed islands, with the Straits of Malacca to the west and the South China Sea to the east, give rise to a large number of fabulous beaches. Islands like Langkawi, Tioman and Pangkor are world-renowned resort destinations. Visitors can discover the prolific marine life and dense rainforest while exploring the underwater world and wilderness of Borneo and experience a delightful fusion of three of Asia’s oldest civilisations; Malay, Chinese and Indian.

For more information on this amazing destination and on both competitions including the terms and conditions, stop by the Tourism Malaysia stand AP12 at the exhibition from Thursday 02 to Sunday 05 February.

- Ends- For more information please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell/Alicia Iglesias Cortes
Email:flo@representationplus.co.uk/alicia@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Visit: www.tourism.gov.my
Visit: www.malaysiaairlines.com
Visit: www.trailfinders.com

To download the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board press pack including a full list of events and festivals please visit www.representationplus.co.uk
Follow Malaysia on Twitter - @malaysiauk and on the PR blog malaysiatourismpromotionuk.blogspot.com

MALAYSIA: THE ULTIMATE YEAR-ROUND FAMILY HOLIDAY

From wildlife encounters and jungle trekking to breathtaking theme parks and shopping, Malaysia is one of the most diverse, child friendly and safe countries in Asia making it perfect for an unforgettable family holiday.

Malaysia offers a range of activities suitable for all ages and tastes; from relaxing and picturesque beach resorts dotted along the coast, amusement and water parks as well as more adventurous activities like rock climbing or mountain biking which are ideal for families with older children. Malaysia caters for all and can even be travelled on a budget with package tours available from high street operators such as Flight Centre, Hayes & Jarvis, Kuoni and Trailfinders.

Several new and exciting theme parks have opened on the Malaysian peninsula over the last decade bringing to total to seven. One of which is only 15 minutes from the capital Kuala Lumpur: Lagoon Sunway is five astounding theme parks rolled into one, boasting a water park where families can relax in the lazy river or duck and dive in the wave pool, a scream park and a wildlife park complete with petting zoo, plus an amusement park.

Back in Kuala Lumpur, families can shop till they drop in the tallest towers in the world, the Petronas Towers, visit the brand new Heritage Park or get involved with the hands-on science exhibits at the Petrosains Discovery Centre.

Adventurous families can take a short flight from the mainland across to Borneo to rock climb, mountain bike and trek through the highland rainforest whilst tracking animal footprints or learn to dive in the depths of the South China Sea. Caving is also an increasingly popular and invigorating attraction found throughout Malaysia, where families can stroll amongst the stalactites and roosting bats.

Above ground, island-hopping is a great way to relax on the white sands on, for instance, Tioman Island. Children can snorkel in the shallows and meet the marine life at Redang Island or watch the enormous yet harmless water monitor lizards basking in the sun off the coast of Kota Kinabalu on Pulau Sapi.

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Follow us on Twitter - @malaysiauk
Download the press pack - www.representationplus.co.uk

For more information, please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell/Alicia Iglesias Cortes
Email:flo@representationplus.co.uk/alicia@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Visit: www.tourism.gov.my
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board works closely with the following companies offering packages to Malaysia:
www.flightcentre.co.uk
www.kuoni.co.uk
www.trailfinders.com
www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk

DATO PROFESSOR JIMMY CHOO OBE, WINS THE WORLD’S OUTSTANDING CHINESE DESIGNER AWARD

Dato ProfessorJimmy Choo OBE, was presented with the 2011 World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award at a ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre by the Honorable Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This honor is reserved for designers of Chinese heritage who have demonstrated significant contribution to the design community and a continuous devotion to the development of design through supporting educational, training and research activities across the globe. Since 2000, when Jimmy Choo was bestowed the title of Honourable Dato’ (equivalent to a British Knighthood), he has received more than 15 awards including an OBE in 2003.

Mention “Jimmy Choo” and elegant, exquisitely crafted shoes immediately first come to mind as famed for making shoes for the late Princess Diana, Mr Choo’s beautiful creations have adorned the feet of royalty, celebrities and pop stars.

Choo, the son of a reputable shoe designer in Malaysia, spent his early years on the idyllic island of Penang working as his father’s young apprentice. Determined to master the art of shoe design, he came to London in the 1980’s to study footwear at Cordwainers College.

Since establishing his couture label in 1986, Choo’s made-to-order designs have included an extensive range of hand beaded; hand stitched and personalised shoes ranging from slippers, sandals and mules to boots.

In 1988, Vogue ran an 8 page spread featuring Choo’s creations teamed with clothes from various British dress designers. This affirmed his status as a shoe designer and master craftsman and Choo has never looked back since. Today, Dato Professor Jimmy Choo is forefront in several areas, namely, at his couture house on Connaught Street, secondly in his support for education as Ambassador for Footwear Education at the London College of Fashion and a spokesperson for the British Council in their promotion of British Education to foreign students and thirdly in his active support for his native country as Tourism Ambassador for Malaysia since August 2009.

Commenting on his role as Ambassador Jimmy Choo says:

“Although I am living in London, it is my responsibility to promote Malaysia as a unique tourist destination on the other side of the world”. He adds, “I am still a Malaysian, every time someone asks me where I come from, I will instinctively promote my country to them”

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“As a world renowned celebrity icon Dato Jimmy Choo is the perfect candidate to help Malaysia promote its tourism in the UK and we congratulate him on this recent accolade”, commented Abdul Rauf Abu Hassan, Director of Tourism Malaysia in the UK & Ireland.

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For press information on Malaysia please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell/Alicia Iglesias Cortes
Email:flo@representationplus.co.uk/alicia@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04

For more information on holidays in Malaysia please contact:
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Bureau
57 Trafalgar Square London, London WC2N 5DU
Phone: 02 079 307 932
Email: mtpb.london@tourism.gov.my / info@tourism-malaysia.co.uk
Visit: www.tourism.gov.my
For more information on the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award:
Visit: http:// www.hkdesigncentre.org/en/awards/wocd.asp.

Note to editors:
Mr Jimmy Choo has been honored with many awards over the years including the the following:
2000, Title of Honourable Dato’ (equivalent to a British Knighthood) by the Sultan of Pahang.
June 2000, Choo was one of the first six recipients of the Gold Award from the Association of Colleges
May 2001, Title of visiting professor by The London Institute
June 2003, Honorary OBE
Feb 2004, Admitted to the Freedom of the Company of Cordwainers and clothed as an Honorary Liveryman of the Company
May 2004, Title of Honorary Fellow of London University of the Arts
July 2004, Honorary Doctorate of Arts (Design) from De Montfort, Leicester
Aug 2004, Title of Dato’ from The Head of State of Penang
Nov 2006, “Freedom of the City of London”
Nov 2006, Lifetime achievement award at Malaysia- International Fashion Week
June 2007, Special Recognition from the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Malaysia
Aug 2009, Named as Malaysia’s tourism Ambassador
September 2009, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society
January 2010, Honorary President for the International School of Creative Arts
December 2011, World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award