This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 2, 2019

On New Year’s Eve, Resorts World Genting (RWG) held its annual colourful fireworks show to welcome the new year. The massive display was followed by an astonishing pyrotechnic and then a synchronised showcase. Over 100,000 people turned up to witness the dazzling countdown at 11.59pm, also visible miles away.

At midnight, the crowd gave loud cheers and Happy New Year greetings, amid the fireworks bursting into the skies in red, blue, green, yellow and purple, among other hues.

The pyrotechnic and synchronised displays were also a spectacle, adding more dramatic effects and elements of surprise to the fireworks show. It was said that the Park Avenue Lounge in SkyAvenue offered the best views of the whole production, and where guests were seen mingling, enjoying canapés and fine champagnes.

Those at the High Line Rooftop Market and the SkyAvenue outdoor open deck area also raved about the views of the seven-minute showcase. With loud music in the background, visitors were seen having a blast dancing till the wee hours.  

Another attraction was the Genting Pokémon Festival, an ongoing event. Pokémon enthusiasts and families with children capped the night off at the most adorable countdown up in the mountains, featuring a special appearance by a life-sized Pikachu.

The all-dancing Pikachu troupe performed an exciting Pikachu-style dance in a parade led by a vibrant host on the SkySymphony stage at Level 1 of SkyAvenue mall. The audience was charmed; in fact, most of them used their mobile phones to record the cute showcase for posterity.   

Elsewhere, the Marella Discovery Cruise ship made its first trip to Malaysia yesterday, docking at the Genting Star Cruises port in the Andaman Sea next to the Resorts World Langkawi.

The port had received some 1,300 ships last year, with approximately 130,000 passengers arriving on ships such as the Genting Dream, as well as Star Cruises’ ships such as the SuperStar Gemini.

For the Marella Discovery Cruise, this is the furthest destination yet for the ship where passengers spent a night in Langkawi before leaving for Bangkok.

Total passengers for Marella Cruises’ Fly & Cruise packages are expected to increase the number of tourists in Langkawi by 7,200 in the first year of the programme, expected to continue for the winter holidays in 2019 and 2020, with the summer holidays held in the Mediterranean.

This is a tourism ministry initiative to boost Malaysia’s visibility across all European source markets and strengthen the country’s position as an international holiday destination.

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board deputy director general (Promotion) Datuk Mohmed Razip Hasan, Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) admin manager (Promotions) Mable Leong and Resorts World Langkawi assistant vice president Azahar bin Osman were present to receive the first group of passengers at the Langkawi International Airport.

“Today (yesterday) marks a momentous day for Langkawi with the TUI airline flying into Langkawi and Marella Cruises docking next to the Resorts World Langkawi. We are delighted with the ministry of tourism and Lada’s initiatives and efforts to bring this European cruise to Langkawi,” Genting Malaysia Bhd executive vice-president of leisure & hospitality Datuk Edward Holloway said.

“With the resort just less than a five-minute walk to the cruise liner, we met with TUI’s senior programming team some months ago to explore future programmes to include pre- and post-stays for their passengers. We see great potential in working with Marella Cruises and for more visits in future for British visitors to enjoy the beautiful island of Langkawi and Malaysia.”

Joanna Morgan, head of hotel operations of the Marella Cruises, TUI Group said: “Langkawi is a perfect destination for British travellers and we are pleased with the overwhelming response for this package. Our passengers find comfort by coming in by both a British ship and plane to see Malaysia in a British way, so to speak.”

“With Resorts World Langkawi just a five-minute walking distance from the ship, our travellers will find the resort a lovely place to visit as it has friendly staff members and is the perfect place for a walk and drinks in the evenings, with magnificent views of other islands. In addition, we’ve also arranged a large excursion programme for our passengers to visit Langkawi,” she added.