Slower Malaysian F1 ticket sales

Sepang International Circuit will stage the 10th Malaysian Grand Prix on March 23, and organizers are targeting a record 50,000 foreign visitors. But, with excitement building up to Formula One's first night race here in September, some Singaporeans who have been regulars at the Kuala Lumpur circuit have decided to give it a miss this time round.

Local travel agents who market tour packages for the Sepang race have noticed a slight drop in enquiries and bookings.

'It has been slower compared to past years,' noted Magdalene Ma, operations manager at Fascinating Holidays.

The firm, which has been selling Malaysian F1 packages the past few years, is seeing a 10 to 20 per cent decline compared to previous years.

It usually sees about 150 people snapping up its packages. A three-day, two-night package, including coach transfers and hotel stay, starts from $315. Another established player, Luxury Tours & Travel, reported a similar decline in sales.