Sabah: Rich foreigners' playground a tourism attraction

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to be transformed into a rich foreigners' playground of resort and spa with other leisure properties when the Second Sabah Tourism Master Plan is launched by year end to clarify and define the coastal potential for tourism particularly on the West Coast.

It might just be the boost needed for the success of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) campaign here as expatriates rank Malaysia the 19th most desirable country to live and settle down after Switzerland and Singapore which were ranked first and second due to good law and order.

"This is the optimal time to acquire beachfront lands," said a tourism consultant. According to Christopher Boyd, it is still cheap to obtain resort lands in Sabah with prices around RM10 to RM12 per square foot.

The entry of Alila Resorts to Sabah helps to pull other top players in the industry particularly Club Med, now under Mainland Chinese interest, and Aman Resorts, to seriously look into setting up operations here, given the state's natural beauty.

The growth in such leisure tourism sector is going to provide many employment opportunities for the younger generations affording them the means to pay for their own housing needs.

As an example of what is to come, with strong Singaporean lead in the city centre's largest resort – the Sutera Harbour Resort which changed hands recently to Singapore Exchange-listed GSH Corp Ltd having acquired a 77.5 per cent stake in Sutera Harbour Group Sdn Bhd, the owner and operator of the Sutera Harbour Resort vide its wholly-owned subsidiary, Borneo Ventures Pte Ltd.

The Sutera Harbour Resort comprises two five-star hotels – the 500-room Pacific Sutera and 456-room The Magellan Sutera; the 104-berth Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club; an award-winning 27-hole championship golf course designed by Graham Marsh; and a host of fine dining and recreational facilities.

In the past, GSH, through two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Ocean View Ventures Pte Ltd and Ocean View Point Pte Ltd, also acquired two separate land parcels totalling nearly 10ha or 25.2 acres (1.1 million sq. ft.) within the 154ha Sutera Harbour property for future luxury condominium development with estimated gross development area of over 2.5 million sq. ft.

Continue reading at: Sabah: Rich foreigners' playground a tourism attraction

.
.

Sarawak wants Maswings to fly Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector

KUCHING: Sarawak wants MASwings to fly an additional route on the Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector to increase connectivity between the two destinations in the spirit of BIMP-EAGA, state Tourism and Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said yesterday.

He made the proposal at the three-day Sarawak Yogyakarta East Asia Tourism Forum {EATOF} Business Collaboration Forum in Yogyakarta, which began on Wednesday, in which Malaysia was represented by Sarawak and Indonesia by Yogyakarta.

The synergy between Yogyakarta and Sarawak could tap bigger markets like China, Korea and Japan who are also members of EATOF, he said in a statement issued by his ministry here.

Abang Johari, who led a delegation of various industries under his ministry’s initiative, also highlighted on the idea of integrating the tourism attractions in the two places, including joint-packages combining UNESCO world heritage sites in Yogyakarta, the Boranudur, and Sarawak Mulu Cave. The mission would be made possible with airline linking Yogyakarta-Pontianak-Kuching through Batavia Air at present, he said.

In an audience with the Vice-Governor of Yogyakarta, Pakualam the IX, at the Kepatihan (Governor’s office), the discussion also elaborated on the potential of joint efforts in the areas of housing and education.

Yogyakarta, which recorded the second highest in Indonesia (after Bali) for property market, is a preferred location especially for retirement, could also benefit Sarawak as an alternative destination through Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H), said Abang Johari.

Continue reading at: Sarawak wants Maswings to fly Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector

.
.

Japanese tourists want to stay longer in Sarawak

KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to be a chosen destination for Japanese to go for longer stay especially during winter period in their country.

Chairman of the Japan Association Travel Agency Western Co-operative (WJTA) Koichi Kumashiro said he expected more tourists from Japan to come to the state through direct flights offered by Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

“Malaysia is one those preferred destination among the Japanese to opt for longer stay, which is more than one month, and is normally during the winter time,” he said, adding that Sarawak’s main attraction for the Japanese is the Orang Utan.

He explained that most Japanese who visited the State were keen to know more about the Orang Utan’s living habitat.

Apart from these, he said the State’s various ethnic group and cultural, natural surroundings, forests, and the widespread use of English was also an attraction to the Japanese.

He was speaking to reporters during a welcoming dinner hosted by Sarawak Tourisim Board for WJTA members, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Wednesday.

Malaysia Tourism promotion board director Ahmad Johanif said it expected more Japanese to participate in the ‘Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)’, while pointing out a total of 1,300 participants were recorded up to May 1, this year since MM2H was introduced in 2006.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Japanese tourists want to stay longer in Sarawak

.
.

Sarawak to promote My Second Home plan

KUCHING: Sarawak will go on a roadshow in Singapore this year to promote itself as a destination for the Malaysia My Second Home programme.

State Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state had built houses in the RM300,000 price range, which were targeted for foreign ownership.

“We will encourage Singaporeans to own houses here. This will also help to promote the state’s tourism and stimulate its economic growth,” he said at the ministry’s media appreciation dinner at Grand Margherita Hotel on Friday.

The ministry, he said, would be working together with the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association on the roadshow.

Johari said Sarawak would also try to attract Singaporean construction companies into building homes targeted for foreign ownership in the state.

Continue reading at: Sarawak to promote My Second Home plan

Kudat Riviera secures more awards for Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Exquisite Borneo Villas Sdn Bhd (EBV), part of the Touchdown World Travel Group, and its exclusive Kudat Riviera super-luxury-tourism villa: resort in Kudat have secured two prestigious awards for Sabah last month at the Cityscape Asian Property Award Show, highlighting once again the growing potential and popularity of Sabah in the eyes of the world.

These recent accolades, commending the Kudat Riviera by Exquisite Borneo Villas for two categories, one for Best Developer - Waterfront Development (Future) and the second for Best Developer – Corporate Social Responsibility, join the growing list of accolades being garnered by the Kudat Riviera, and setting the path of success for this prestigious tourism development at the northern tip of Sabah.

Other awards achieved in 2007 included two awards from the prestigious CNBC/Daily Mail International Property Awards in categories for Best Architecture and Best Development, and also the Top of the Region – Finest Development in the Asia Pacific Region from Asia Pacific Tropical Homes Magazine.

EBV has introduced and pioneered the super-luxury villa market to Sabah’s tourism industry with its Kudat Riviera villa resort.

It is set to open its doors at the end this year. The Kudat Riviera will position Sabah alongside its neighbours Bali and Thailand, which avidly market luxury villas to the high-end tourism market as a cornerstone of their tourism plans.

Continue reading at: Kudat Riviera secures more awards for Sabah

d' Banyan Residency @ Sutera - Revolutionary living with classy touch

Aerial view of the resort

One of the villas

A villa on offer

d' Banyan Residency @ Sutera, located in the heart of Sutera Harbour Resort is set to become the benchmark for prestigious luxury living with a touch of class in Kota Kinabalu City. "We are revolutionising the very concept of plush contemporary living balanced by the tranquility of Sabah's natural evergreen splendour," enthused General Manager of WCT Land Berhad, Stewart Tew.

"With a virtually 360 panorama of the golf scenery viewable from every balcony, d' Banyan luxury designer homes is in a distinct class of its own," Tew Added.

Some may wonder where the name originates from and it would seem that d' Banyan Residency draws it namesake from the humble banyan tree. "We have adopted the Banyan story as it tells a tale of centuries old where people from all walks of life congregated under the banyan tree to share news and views. This is the type of community we hope to inspire - tight knit and integrated with a strong sense of belonging," Tew explained.

This concept of integration has been translated into reality at d' Banyan Residency @ Sutera. Strategically located 5 mins from KK City and 10 mins from the KK International Airport, d' Banyan Residency resides in a restful cove within Sutera. The 122 units of 3 Storey Detached Villa, 2 Storey Semi-Detached Villa and as well as the 2 Storey Superlink Villa homes are a testimony of architectural perfection finished appeal to the stringent requirements of the upper class market.

Price between Ringgit Malaysia 1.4 million to 3 million and above with a build up area of 4,350 s.f to 6,700 s.f, the three contemporary designs of sheer luxury exude charm, privacy and exclusivity. d' Banyan is indeed a celebration of life and style and one can definitely expect a 5 star lifestyle befitting the 5 star location.

d' Banyan Residency is unique in the sense that it caters for all the needs and desires of the truly affluent. From private swimming pools in designed units and solar water heating system to split air-conditioner as well as food waste disposal are provided, no stone has been left unturned in the concerted effort to maximise comfort and pleasure. With such luxuriant surroundings, you can also be assured that security issues are never comprised as every precautionary measure has been employed.

The Residency is armed with double security check points, perimeter fencing equipped with CCTV surveillance system linked directly to the guard house, all of which cultivates ultimate peace of mind.

The official launch is expected to only take place in July 2008 yet current sales have already proven to be good. Under the detailed touch of WCT's subsidiary Camellia Tropicana Sdn. Bhd's management team, construction of d' Banyan Residency is well underway. In fact, it is ahead of schedule with piling works completing soon while other units have even completed foundation works.

d' Banyan is expected to be completed by end of 2009.

Buyers wishing to get an initial feel of the stunning ambience can pay a visit to the Semi-Detached and Superlink show houses expected to be ready for viewing with full interior design come July this year.

Those who are financially savvy will note that the prime time to buy is now, as trends denote that the market price will increase upon completion of the show houses and because of the increase of building materials prices.

Currently, the Sale and Purchase Agreement legal fees are borne by the developer so it would be financially astute to purchase now and enjoy this benefit.

Tew added that d' Banyan Residency is looking into luring foreign property investors into making d' Banyan their home. WCT will market d' Banyan comprehensively overseas, while highlighting the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme as a viable retirement option in this country.

WCT has made purchasing these villas easier by providing full customer services. Locals and foreigners alike can enjoy assistance in documentation processes and mortgage financing prospects in association with various local banks.

d' Banyan Residency @ Sutera is a jewel of an investment. It would be deemed highly perceptive to set aside this diamond of a property as part of your personal investment portfolio with full intention to bank on the future.

d' Banyan Residency: Revolutionising the way we live and breathe.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend

‘Malaysia, My 2nd Home’ participants in Sarawak may get longer visas

KUCHING: The state government is ready to extend the visa from the current five years to 10 years, in parallel with other states in the country, for foreigners in order to encourage them to buy houses in the state.

Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said this was in order to boost the property market in the state and also to ensure the success of the Malaysia My Second Home Programme.

He nevertheless said the visa should not be abused for other purposes as the privilege was solely to encourage foreigners to own property in the state.

Continue reading at: ‘Malaysia, My 2nd Home’ participants in Sarawak may get longer visas