LAST WEEK MALAYSIA became a mecca for tourism industry supremos, but many 'pilgrims' - some had been travelling for more than 18 hours from North America - were a little disenchanted by the time they reached the centre of Kuala Lumpur.
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) delegates had made their way to the Malaysian capital for its 50th annual conference, but some were unaware that the state-of-the-art Sepang airport is about 70 kilometres from the city.
It takes less than 3.5 hours to reach Kuala Lumpur from Hong Kong - but the complimentary airport shuttle coaches were taking up to two hours to get delegates to their hotels in the capital in a merry-go-round of drop-offs.
Although the airport has been open for nearly three years, the LRT rail link will not operate until next year.
But the rail network is well-established in the city, and is proving a boon to travellers, with quick and efficient links to tourist sites and hotels in air-conditioned comfort while temperatures outside soar to the high 30s Celsius.
After the transfer delays there were few gripes from the more than 1,300 delegates and media representatives from 55 countries who had descended upon Kuala Lumpur.