KUALA LUMPUR: CITY Hall launched the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Ambassador Program and the KL Tourist Guidebook recently to boost tourist arrivals to the nation’s capital.
The programme is supported by 1Malaysia 4 Youth (iM4U) and Kuala Lumpur Tourist Guides Association.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said the initiative is expected to increase the number of tourists to 16 million by 2025.
“I thank iM4U for their support during the recruitment process.
“We must also extend our gratitude to the tourist guides and lecturers who conducted the training for our ambassadors,” said Ahmad Phesal.
Its first step was to engage volunteers to join the KL Tourism Ambassador Programme (KLAP).
To date, 40 people have volunteered for the programme.
They were handpicked by iM4U and underwent several screening processes to ensure they had the right attitude and skills.
They also went through a six-day training programme to beef up their knowledge on Kuala Lumpur’s tourism industry and will be serving for three to six months’ period.
The volunteers will receive a RM400 monthly allowance throughout their service.
The group can be identified through their red vests, white cap and Visit KL bags. They will be stationed at high traffic tourist areas and take part in tourism events.
“The selection process was not easy as we had to choose people with the right attitude. They are the future of our tourism industry,” said iM4U chief operating officer Azlan Rudy Malik.
Volunteer Nuraini Rudi, 22, from Gombak, said she joined the programme because of her passion for volunteerism.
“I’ve learned a lot about the city’s history. It is our duty to volunteer and contribute to the country,” she said.
City Hall’s second initiative is to improve information flow to tourists through the KL Tourist Guidebook.
It provides facts, descriptions and anecdotes of tourist spots, medical centres, shopping malls, neighbourhoods and others.
The guidebook is divided to six zones — Wangsa Maju-Maluri, Sentul-Menjalara, Bukit Jalil-Seputeh and Bandar Tun Razak-Sungai Besi.
It will be available next month and distributed to more than 1,000 tourist guides across Malaysia.
For details, visit www.visitkl.gov.my.