Yeahโผ๏ธ The 2๏ธโฃnd edition of Tourism Malaysia Media Explore Race (TOMER) 2023 by Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board aka Tourism Malaysia is back in collaboration ๐ค๐ป with Perodua, Putrajaya Corporation & Tourism Selangor as its strategic partners
The organization of TOMER not only aims to establish close relations with local & international media involving mainstream media & ๐ media, but also to promote tourism products & activities
TOMER 2023 continues the success of TOMER 2022 with extensive publicity & coverage of domestic tourism products & activities encompassing the gastronomy, nature & heritage segments & latest tourist attractions around Putrajaya & Selangor ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ๐พ
Tourism Malaysia is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene
The next Visit Malaysia Year will be in year 2026 to commemorate the sustainability of the nation’s tourism industry. It’s also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)
Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) ๐ค๐ป๐ค๐ป๐ค๐ป๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฒ๐พ๐น๐ญ๐ฏ๐๐ป by working towards the realization of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025 thatย shared the same aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination
Do check out FB albums via ๐ธ๐ https://www.facebook.com/malaysia.travel.corporate/posts/pfbid02Cv1JUUa86w1xwap89P4DYtmagookceft8WP3iwuw39wTHWVdFYabJRvqNsbxGzAPl & ๐ธ๐ย https://www.facebook.com/malaysia.travel.corporate/posts/pfbid02gv51bashj5pfJbPFHnHmEzDpuyVhpUmLkhuPHkaXLudi6aheUjJZanraNFG2kj6Nl & ๐ธ๐ย https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0aSprcunSxZrsEARNyPALoo4fiNqmH7CPzV4nGZdJ3rZmtxuZm1Fji5yscwu3EnFrl&id=100068928542728&mibextid=Nif5oz
Guess what โโ๏ธ
It has attracted 80 media practitioners (In 20 Perodua-sponsored cars ๐๐), including 18 international participants from Indonesia ๐ฎ๐ฉ, Thailand ๐น๐ญ, Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌ, the Philippines ๐ต๐ญ & Brunei ๐ง๐ณย It aims to promote tourism destinations & products available in Putrajaya & Selangor to the domestic & international media members. Each participated team is set for 4๏ธโฃpax in a Perodua-sponsored car ๐ allocated with team participation no. pasted on the car. Each participant is required to comply with all road rules throughout this exciting race, yes โ , safety 1๏ธโฃst always ya ๐
Hurrayโผ๏ธ SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ปโ ๐ฏ just completed her participation for the 3D2N Tourism Malaysia Media Explore Race 2023 (TOMER 2023) with her group members of Team 18 ๐๐ป๐๐ป
This was her 2๏ธโฃnd participation, while her 1๏ธโฃst time was TOMER 2022 in Nov 2022 with another 3๏ธโฃ team members as Team 21 Pari-Pari. Itย has covered from Putrajaya, Selangor, Perak & Kuala Lumpur (KL) in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ & with a combination of 2๏ธโฃ popular competition concepts ie. Treasure Hunt & Explorace ๐ฏ๐๐ปย Read more via ๐ ย https://siennylovesdrawing.wordpress.com/2023/02/09/tourism-malaysia-media-explore-race-media-appreciation-ceremony-2022/
Ohh yes…They have won consolation prize of RM500 ๐ in TOMER 2022
Hmm…How about this year, TOMER 2023 as Team 18โโ๏ธ Do continue to read on to find out ya… hahaha ๐คฃ๐๐
So, from 8 to 10 Nov 2023, the participants were flagged off ๐ฉ๐ by Datoโ Dr Ammar Abd. Ghapar ๐จ๐ฝโ๐ผ, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) approximately 8.45am. In this year’s challenge, participants will embark on a treasure hunt & exploration of Putrajaya’s landmarks ๐๐ & also explore the coastal areas of Selangor in groups while driving Perodua-sponsored cars ๐๐
The exciting prizes ๐๐ to reward the winning participants of this race consists of 1๏ธโฃst prize ~ RM 5๏ธโฃK,ย 2๏ธโฃnd prize ~ RM 3๏ธโฃK, 3๏ธโฃrd prize ~ RM2๏ธโฃK & ๐ consolation prizes of RM500 each
Day 1๏ธโฃ
The participants registration started early morning โ๏ธ at Putrajaya International Convention Centre with receipt of participation kit, location guide aka tulip, question sets, t-shirts ๐๐ & breakfast ๐ฝ๏ธ๐ Then, followed by a race briefing session by Clerk of Course (COC) for this race. The flag off of ๐ฉ๐ all participants of this race was officiated by YBhg. Datoโ Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Ketua Pengarah Tourism Malaysia
“Tourism Malaysia has carried out various promotional & marketing activities to increase the contribution of the tourism sector to the improvement of the national economy in parallel with the focus on making Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ as 1๏ธโฃ of the preferred tourist destinations in the region. Through the organization of TOMER for the 2๏ธโฃnd year, publicity for domestic tourism products can also be increased including the gastronomy & nature segments in addition to strengthening public-private cooperation,” he shared
Ohh ya…He also jokingly commented that this TOMER 2023 t-shirts made him felt that he has officiated a football โฝ event, lol ๐ Heย emphasized to all participants to enjoy & have fun in this race ๐
All participants were gathered & travelled in team to selected locations ๐๐ along the route of the race to create various tourism promotional content, including videos to be shared on social media ๐น๐ธ, answer pop questions โโ in the form of a Creative Thinking Outside the Box ๐ค๐ญ๐ฌ, her team mates even said thinking outside the world, lol ๐ then to complete all the tasks & challenges allocated
Among the 8๏ธโฃ checkpoints explored as below,
- Putra Square (Putrajaya Story, Prime Minister’s Office & Masjid Putra) ~ SiennyLovesDrawing so amazed with her 1๏ธโฃst visit to Putrajaya Story especially the grow in the dark gallery ๐คฉ & can do chocolate shopping hereย ๐ซ๐๐๏ธ. Of course not to miss the opportunity to visit famous beautiful Pink mosque ๐๐
- Morocco Pavilion & Putrajaya Botanical Park ~ A perfect destination to shot for OOTDs, this is absolutely instagrammable ๐๐คฉ
- Wetland Studio & Wetland Park ~ SiennyLovesDrawing especially loves the blinks blinks jelly fish at the underwater ocean ๐ gallery here, so so stunning beautiful ๐คฉ๐
- Gl@w Glamping @ Wetland Putrajaya ~ Enjoyed buffet lunch served here & nice glamping site by the lake ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ
- Nasyrul Quran Complex ~ Visit to the world ๐บ๐ โs 2๏ธโฃnd largest Quran โช๏ธ๐ production centre after the King Fahd Complex, Madinah ๐Do check out her earlier blog story via ๐ https://siennylovesdrawing.wordpress.com/2019/11/26/must-do-putrajaya-malaysia/
- Anjung Floria Putrajaya ๐บ ๐น (Cancelled last mins this check point due to rain ๐ง๏ธโ)
- Equestrian Park Putrajaya ๐ด๐ ~ Enjoyed horse ride, feeding horse or cafe hopping โบ๏ธ
- Taman Cahaya Putra Perdana ๐ก ~ Enjoyed slow walk & OOTDs with beautiful lights up during the night here
- Tangga Putrajaya Steps ~ 250 steps stairs with 30m high & has a length of 200m to appreciate the panoramic Putrajaya views & enjoy some light sports activities here
Tourism Malaysia also provides KL Hop-On Hop-Off bus ๐ services for all participants to enjoy the colourful panoramic night ๐ ๐ view of Putrajaya
Day 2๏ธโฃ
All race participants continue to go through 6๏ธโฃ checkpoints listed as below in Selangor after breakfast at hotel
- Homestay Banghuris ๐ก ~ Banghuris represents 3๏ธโฃ villages namely Kampung Bukit Bangkong, Kampung Hulu Chuchuh & Kampung Hulu Teris. Team 18 highly recommended to experience a truly unique way of life, culture & tradition lifestyle as well as the warmth hospitality of the village folks by opting a homestay here in Banghuris, Sepang with agro tourism activities eg. Fishing ๐ฃ at the pond, experience coffee โ processing, play local games with the villagers eg. Bowling botol dengan kelapa, Tudung Saji weaving, congkak, flying kite ๐ช etc. Ohh ya …Must try its heritage dish ~ Nasi Ambeng
- ย Bagan Lalang Beach ๐๏ธโฑ๏ธ ~ This picturesque Bagan Lalang Beach โฑ๏ธ๐๏ธ is home to several local & international hotel & resort chains, including AVANI Goldcoast Sepang Resort (A floating resort laid out in the shape of a palm ๐ด tree), Hotel Seri Malaysia & PNK (Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan) Sepang Resort. Can opt for a night stay at PNK Sepang Resort, a clean & peaceful stay with beautiful sea view ๐ Also can buy fresh crab ๐ฆ๐ฆ here, yeah ๐ This beach is usually packed on weekends with locals & tourists taking part in fishing ๐ฃ, kite-flying ๐ช, BBQ sessions, water sports activities eg. kayaking ๐ถ & camping ๐๏ธ (Team 18 met a camping pakcik here ๐๐)
- Morib Beach โฑ๏ธ๐๏ธ ~ Team 18 of TOMER2023 gonna recommends 2๏ธโฃ beaches for all to enjoy weekend getaways from KL city centre. It’s a popular recreational spot surrounded by whispering Casuarinas & swaying palms. At low tide, the shore stretches far into the Straits of Malacca ๐ It’s an ideal & popular weekend getaway spot for KL city dwellers in search of a quick vitamin sea refill ๐ History lovers will enjoy discovering a wealth of historical sites eg. The ruins of old government buildings, royal graves & an abandoned palace
- Kelanang Beach โฑ๏ธ ๐๏ธ is a laid back & relaxing place to enjoy fresh sea breezes ๐๐ฌ๏ธ & feel sand between your toes, even if the sand is of the brown ๐ค & muddy variety. It’s natural for the coastline on this stretch of the Strait of Malacca to be brown ๐ค as the mouth of the Langat River disgorges its constant flow of silt just 2๏ธโฃkm away, while the busy port of Klang. The beach is protected from erosion by a barrier of giant sand bags which form a kind of lagoon when the tide is right ๐ฏ๐๐ป
- ย Bandar Jugra Palace ๐ ~ It belongs to Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the 5๏ธโฃth Sultan of Selangor. He lived here for many years until his death in 1938. Aka Istana Alaeddin or Alaeddin Palace, the building was constructed using high-quality Chengal timber & marble. Its design is largely Islamic, mainly of Indian & Middle-Eastern origin with some Chinese influence (The roofโs carved fascia board & dragon fin), as craftsmen from China were involved in the palaceโs construction. The double-storey structure has many rooms, including a royal bath (Kolam Mandi Diraja), throne room (Balai Rong Seri), banquet room (Kamar Santap Diraja), bedrooms (Kamar Beradu), audience halls (Balai Mengadap), verandah (Sotoh), kitchen (Dapur) & a โforbidden gardenโ (Taman Larangan). It fell into disuse after independence, when the state administrative centre was moved to Kuala Lumpur. Then, later it used as a craft centre & Quran study centre, the central religious text of Islam
- Mah Meri Cultural Village ๐๏ธ ~ The ancient Mah Meri tribe aka the “Masked Men of Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ๐ญ” is 1๏ธโฃ of 18 indigenous communities living in Peninsula Malaysia as they are widely regarded as highly-skilled mask makers. Guess whatโโ๏ธ Some of their handicraft masks ๐ญ have been known to fetch thousands of dollars , wow ๐ฏ๐ฒ The Mah Meri tribe women are extremely adept at palm weaving. Visitors get to learn from them how to making headdresses or other decorative items made of palm fronds. There is a small gallery/museum and traditional house in the village compound that is open to visitors. The best time to visit Pulau Careyโs Mah Meri Cultural Village is during Hari Moyang (Ancestor Day), which takes place around March or April each year. During the festival, the tribesmen & women wear intricately carved masks and perform the mystifying Tarian Jo-oh (Jungle Dance) & Tarian Topeng (Mask Dance), which are main features of the festival repertoire
The adventure mission has concluded in Shah Alam with an award ๐ presentation ceremony to all TOMER 2023 winners at Mardhiyyah Hotel & Suites ๐จ๐๏ธ, Shah Alam, Selangor with theme ~ Traditional Classic
Yes โ , SiennyLovesDrawing & her TEAM 18 members ๐ญ๐ป๐ซ๐ป has won the consolation prize ๐๐ป๐ช๐ป๐๐ป, absolutely worth the sweats, tiredness & efforts of all team members, of course great ๐๐ป fun too, yeah ๐๐
A congratulations to all the TOMER 2023 winners ๐ฏ๐๐ป
Datoโ Dr Ammar ๐จ๐ฝโ๐ผ said: “The main objective of organising TOMER 2023 is to strengthen collaboration with mainstream & ๐ media while providing extensive publicity and coverage for the latest tourism products in & around Putrajaya & Selangor, encompassing natural & coastal attractions, heritage, arts & culture. As part of the government’s commitment towards the success of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Tourism Malaysia has undertaken various promotional & marketing activities to boost the contribution of the tourism sector to the nation’s economic growth.โ
“Through the organisation of TOMER 2023, publicity for tourism products can be enhanced, in addition to strengthening public-private partnerships to make Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ a
preferred tourism destination in the region,” he said
Absolutely a healthy race to join in as it involves brain juice to solve the pop questions, games, activities & sweaty running to create content throughout, exciting one ๐๐ป
- Smartphone ๐ฑ / camera ๐ธ
- Power Bank ๐
- Touch ‘n Go card ~ A contactless smart card system used for electronic payments in Malaysia
- Personal medicine or health supplements
- Cap/ hat ๐งข๐
- Slippers ๐ฉด๐ก
- Covered shoes ๐
- Raincoat or umbrella ๐โ๏ธโ, especially if raining season ๐ง๏ธ๐ฆ๏ธโ๏ธ
- Most important ~ Happy positive vibes ๐๐
Ohh ya …In a momentous stride that coincided with the TOMER 2023, Tourism Selangor has unveiled its TikTok Platform named @TourismSelangor during this TOMER 2023 prize-giving ceremony
This launching marked the platformโs 1๏ธโฃst anniversary & highlighted Tourism Selangorโs strategic shift towards a digital-centric promotional approach
A staggering 90% of their efforts have transitioned to digital platforms, enabling them to deliver content that resonates more effectively with the public & aligns seamlessly with the principles of Tourism 4.0
Mr Azrul Shah Mohamad ๐จ๐ฝโ๐ฆณ, the Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Selangor said, โA standout achievement for Tourism Selangor is the establishment of our TikTok platform, which has garnered not only over 2๏ธโฃmillion likes but also over 75.2million views through the #PusingSelangorDulu
We are thrilled to unveil our TikTok platform, celebrating ๐ ๐ the dedicated team behind this account, whose contributions have been instrumental in driving our domestic tourism initiatives to unprecedented heights.โ ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐ฏ
@malaysia.truly.asia @perodua #Team18 #tourismmalaysia #cuticutimalaysia #malaysiatrulyasia #tomer2023 #perodua #perbadananputrajaya #pusingselangordulu