Infokiosks on tourist hotspots, hotels
By SIM LEOI LEOI

KUALA LUMPUR: The public can now have quick access to information on tourist hotspots
and hotels with the launch of some 100 touchscreen infokiosks at various locations in the
city.TourismMinister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said a large number of foreigners
arriving in Malaysia hadgotten their information on the country via the Internet.“This is
especially true for foreign tourists from the United States, Europe, Australia and New
Zealand where Internet technology is very advanced.  

“Most of them would have conducted online searches on our hotels and tourist spots,”
she said in her speech at the launch at KL Sentral here on Tuesday.Information on tourist spots and gateways, maps, hotels and the various states at these kiosks -- installed at the shopping malls, tourism information centres and KL International Airport and low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang -- is free of charge.However, if users want to access information via the Internet or use the facility to pay their bills, buy tickets or book hotel rooms online, they would be charged a rate of 20 sen per two minutes.

Azalina said she hoped more kiosks would be installed, particularly in areas with a large number of tourists.“One advantage of having such kioks is that there is no worries about paying salaries to staff manning tourism counters. We are always open to any idea to further develop our tourism industry,” she said, adding that Malaysia was now the second country in Asia, behind China, in terms of number of tourist arrivals.

Speaking to reporters later, Rhyzrin Sdn Bhd managing director Rhymie Ibrahim said another 100 kiosks would be installed in other areas besides the Klang Valley.“Our survey shows that 20% to 35% of human traffic in one area uses the infokiosk to access information on tourism.Data on these tourism products will be updated every two weeks or monthly depending on the situation,” he said, adding that each kiosk cost around RM40,000.

[NATION  13-Jan-2009]