Visit Malaysia Year 2007 - Cheng, Cheng, Cheng ... I am repeating myself, but I was in Singapore and Hong Kong recently and can honestly say that we are actually very far behind these two countries in terms of handling tourists ... even Bangkok has caught up and doing very well (was there a few times in 2006). The infrastructure, conveniences, special treatment, well-trained people, well-planned, well documented, well signposted, appear and behave professionally and very clean (even Bangkok is now clean).
 Our own KL Hop-on-Hop-off bus service did note fare too well. Aiyyaa .. why is this so? Why? Why? What is so difficult?
The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus service is a noted tourism tool in many countries with the on-board commentaries highlighting the city’s history, information on landmarks and cultures. The service came into effect yesterday and it covers 21 stops in Kuala Lumpur which, among others, comprise KLCC and the KL Tower.
- The much anticipated KL Hop-On-Hop-Off bus service saw long delays and on-board commentaries were not functioning.
- Several tourists also complained about the poor language of the bus drivers and guides and swore that they would not recommend the bus service to friends.
- Some tourists also complained that they had to wait under the sun for an hour before the "every half hour" bus arrived.
Here is the solution: Tourism Ministry director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was confident the shortcomings would be addressed soon and was upbeat with the increased arrivals.
Oh my God, when did we start to prepare for VMY2007, yesterday? Surely, surely this was planned much earlier. Was any trial run conducted to test whether the on-board commentaries of the buses were functioning or not. Did they audition the language proficiency of the guides or conductors? Come on man ... this won't do .. and these are the first-impressionists that is representing MALAYSIA to the eyes of the world, for goodness sake. Tourism is a big revenue generator for the country and even individuals. We have been doing this for a long, long time. Have we not learnt anything from past experiences? Have we not seen how other people do things - and we do not really have to go too far, just across the causeway is sufficient. Aiyyaaaa .. tak tau lah ...
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