City tourists in demand abroad

If travelling to a foreign location figures on your list this winter, you have a plethora of options lined up by various tourism boards. Be it Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong or New York, there is a package to suit every pocket. So head for the Disneyland in Hong Kong or, if is too heavy for your pocket, for Malaysia or Thailand. Those deeper pockets could be in New York City for the Halloween.

The tourism boards have also lined up events during the holiday season. “From October 30 to November 9, we are organising a 10-day food and wine festival. It will include outdoor wine-and-dine events, street carnivals and wine-tasting sessions,” said Margaret Fong, commissioner of tourism, Hong Kong. In December, Hong Kong will have added charm as the host of the East Asian Games.

Eager to portray itself as a family destination, the Hong Kong tourism board is coming up with more theme parks. “We will be adding three more theme parks to the Disneyland.  We are also developing our ocean park and have introduced cable car-rides at night,” Fong said. The tourism boards of Malaysia and Thailand too have cast their nets.

“A four-night-five-day stay in Malaysia —  three nights in Kuala Lumpur and one in Genting — will cost Rs19,990 per head. It includes a two-way economy class airfare on Malaysian Airlines, 3-star accommodation with daily breakfast, airport transfer and sightseeing on SIC (seat in coach) basis,” said a Malaysian tourism official.

Bookings are open till November 30. A 5-day tour of Thailand will cost Rs24,949 this winter. Ths costs include return airfare and airport taxes, daily breakfast and dinner, transportation, city tour of Bangkok, and speed boat-ride to Coral Island in Pattaya.
A visit to the picturesque Krabi island will cost Rs17,099 a head. For Phuket, the price will be Rs16,000.

New York is banking upon the Halloween. One can go on a haunted safari, watch magic shows and learn how to carve animal jack-o-lanterns and make masks at the Bronx zoo’s Boo at the Zoo.

You can even go to a haunted hotel. NYC & Company, which handles the marketing of tourism events for New York, has kept these events low-cost. Both children and adults can participate by paying $8 (Rs370 approx) and $20 (Rs930 approx) respectively.