Desaru Coast, a world class international integrated destination resort located in the South-East of Malaysia, was recently making news for shelling out as much as over Rs 12 million incentives package to woo the Indian travellers.
Roslina Arbak, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd, puts it, Desaru is keen to dig deep in the Indian market at position itself as the preferred holiday destinations for the Indian travellers.
“The importance of the Indian market is undeniable for us at Desaru Coast. This is our fourth time presenting at SATTE and this year, we come as a fully operational destination resort with all six world-class resorts and attractions and connectivity infrastructure – the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal, completed. Our priority now is to re-engage and reintroduce our destination to our Indian partners. We are here to demonstrate Desaru Coast’s diverse offerings, infrastructure and readiness to welcome more Indian travellers to our destination, Arbak said.
Desaru Coasts boasts of four international brand hotels, Hard Rock, Westin, Anantara and the ultra-luxurious One&Only. It has two Golf Courses with a total of 45 holes and we are going to be a paradise for the Golfers. Besides, Desaru is home to a fantastic Adventure Water Park and that is Asia’s largest Wave Pool! And also, by virtue of its location, the integrated destination resort spans on a 17-kilometer beach front and boasts of a number of eco-tourism activities that it has curated for its guests.
“Desaru Coast is a perfect getaway for an extended holiday for guests coming into Singapore or to even Kuala Lumpur. It is a good four days –three nights stay with enough activities across the whole spectrum of the market segments. We provide guests with end-to-end experiences where there is something for everyone, whether you are coming to Desaru as a family or whether you are coming as a young couple or coming with three generations of a family. There is something for everyone at different levels and different types of accommodation offerings,” Arbak said.
Explaining more the Rs 12 million incentives package, Arbak said: “Our incentives cuts across all segments; leisure travellers, MICE groups of all sizes as well as the Indian wedding segment,” she said and added that Desaru Coast is introducing its popular luxury stay packages at affordable prices starting at approximately Rs 6,600 per person for the leisure market. The total incentive offered to the leisure market amounts to Rs 5 million.
For the MICE segment, under its signature MICE Reinvented, the destination will be offering incentives valued up to Rs 2.1 million for events and groups. For every group booking, Desaru Coast is offering an incentive of Rs 1100 per person for the Gala Dinner. Additionally, the destination will provide complimentary pocket show activities and cultural shows for the gala dinner.
To attract Indian weddings, a Rs 4.4 million incentive will be presented to the first five weddings booked at the destination, which translates to approximately INR880,000 per wedding. Incentives can be redeemed for in areas of connectivity, themed receptions and wedding photography package among others.
The destination is a mere three and half hours’ drive from Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Alternately, Desaru is also easily accessible via Singapore. Via road it takes under two hours to reach Desaru from Singapore and soon it will also boast of under two-hour ferry connectivity from Singapore. The ferry service is expected to begin in the second half of the year.
“Connectivity wise we are actually in the perfect place and location, just over three hours from Kuala Lumpur and under two hours from Singapore. And if the visitors are coming via Singapore by ferry, it is an added experience and not to forget that it connects directly to Desaru as the ferry terminal is located within the resort,” added Arbak.
“Why we call it an integrated resort is that even though we have different operators, but at the end of the day we own the destination. So, we have formed a destination concierge where we can coordinate a package for both, experiences within the destination (Desaru Coast) as well as outside the destination. So, some of the experiences like eco-tourism activities, it goes beyond our Desaru Coast area. So, we can take guests outside of Desaru Coast and we package it all in,” she added.
