New Tourism Minister - She is not new anymore

Below is the one of my letters that was published in the Star sometime in Mar of this year. I have noticed that since then, nothing much have changed on the topics that I have stated below.

Friday March 28, 2008

To-do list for the new Tourism Minister

I HOPE the new Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said will bring about big changes to the industry.
I hope she will not only brag about the number of visitors into Malaysia as her predecessors have done but also look into the facilities that we can provide for foreign as well as domestic tourists.
As a person in this industry, I would like her to make sure that all the so-called cultural villages in the various states are properly operated and maintained. The Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching is one example. The beaches in places like Penang, Port Dickson, Teluk Cempedak should be maintained and the seas kept free from pollution.
The authorities must see to it that all water sports operators have insurance and their equipment are in good working condition.
Another major grouse is that of taxis which over charge passengers at tourist spots, airports etc.
There must also be proper parking spaces for buses at major tourist spots such as KLCC, Kek Lok Si Temple and Afamosa.
Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival organised by Tourism Malaysia should be a sale in the true sense of the word. Not traders making a fast buck by hiking the price and later bringing it down again and consider it as sales.
Your officers must be made to go to the ground checking on all these items to ensure that policies made are properly implemented.
Tourism is big business, and as in any business, it has to be run in a proper manner.

MALAYSIAN ARAB, Kuala Lumpur.

Now that the year end Mega Sales is back, are the prices really cheap? I know it's easier said than done but whatever it is, Malaysia must be in the forefront of grabbing those tourist that were planning to head for Thailand but due to the political turmoil in that country, are now looking for other places withing this region.
Singapore? Concrete jungle....
Philippines? quite volatile too......
Indonesia? People know more about Bali than Indonesia and since Garuda International cannot fly into Europe, they are quite handicapped.
Let's not talk about Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.......
Here is Malaysia, left like an unpolished diamond..... it is so unpolished that people may even miss it.