It is no secret that Malaysia and Singapore have been rivals on many fronts. Among them, both are claiming to be economically more attractive for foreign investments and both are vying for the top spot as the region's premiere tourist destination.

Like good, friendly neighbours, most of these contests are conducted away from public view while some were publicised after they were picked up by the media.

In this particular encounter, Malaysia is taking the punches as the Eye on Malaysia, compared to its Singapore equivalent, falls short in catching up with the Singapore Flyer.

The Flyer (left), according to sources, had kicked off to a more encouraging start when compared with Malaysia's Eye although it is only in its construction phase.

Asiaone's, the Internet arm of Singapore's Press Holdings report on the Flyer ticket sales today said that the Flyer has been fully booked for the first three months once the wheel starts operation on March 1 next year.

Flyer 37 min, Eye 12-15 min

The Flyer has 28 fully air-conditioned and UV protected capsules with can accommodate 30 people each. Each capsule measures 4x7 meters. The Flyer is currently the world's tallest observation wheel at 165 m, or 42 storeys high. A total of 784 passengers can hop on a ride at a time. Each ride costs S$29.50 that will last 37 minutes.

Malaysia's Eye (left) consists of 42 fully air-conditioned gondolas, 39 of which have the capacity to carry eight passengers on a 12 to 15-minute ride.

An exclusive VIP gondola has also been fitted to include plush leather seats fit for a king, a mini fridge, a DVD player, a plasma TV and a mobile telephone.

Based on information released by MST Ad Suria, from the day the Eye opened up to July, 750,000 visitors have been on the ferris wheel, 10 percent of the 7.5 million estimated visitors to the Titiwangsa Lake in Kuala Lumpur where the Eye is located.
It added that the original conservative estimate numbered at 300,000, a 10 percent target from the estimated three million visitors to the lake.

However, the company with the optimistic nodding of Tourism Malaysia, expected 250,000 visitors per day from the day of the Eye's opening according to press release by the company rendering the conservative estimation too humble.

Singapore Flyer, still in construction phase, on the other hand had sold 1.5 million tickets up to now according to the Asiaone report, 100 percent more than the Malaysian wheel.

A ride on Singapore's observation wheel, compared to Malaysia Eye's tickets selling at RM15 for adults and RM12 for children, is twice as high but this did not deter people from flocking to the ticket counters.

Singapore's freshly anticipated iconic tourist attraction is located near the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and Casino, due for completion in 2009. The casino has also been touted as a serious threat to Malaysia's tourism industry.

Question mark on the Eye's marketing

In the marketing arena, it seems that Adval Brand Groups, the operating company for The Flyer and Singapore's Tourism Board are again leading the race.

According to a news report, "Travel agencies (in Singapore) have snapped up 60 % of the tickets since sale started in April."

"A spokesman for the Adval Brand Groups said travel agencies have included the big wheel in their tour packages as a "must try" experience," the report added.

Malaysian travel agents on the other hand are way behind in the marketing game of the Eye.. According to them, none received any "advice or directive from the Tourism Ministry or company to include the Eye on Malaysia on its itinerary." Thus, the Eye remains only on the 'per-request' itinerary.

Agents are perplexed why this is not done as it is standard practice for companies operating new tourist attractions to work closely with travel agencies to promote them.

Claims made by MST Ad Suria that the Eye is "one of the best performing wheels in the world by Swiss maker" too faced heavy scrutiny by travel agents.

"How can that be? They can't even execute a basic marketing practice and if your (malaysiakini) information is right, the Flyer, even under construction, has sold 100 percent more tickets than the Eye. Is that what you call performing?" asked a director of a Kuala Lumpur-based travel agency who declined to be named.

The Eye On Malaysia has been tainted by allegations that Tourism Malaysia is aiding the ailing giant wheel as hopes to bag the tourists' ringgit begin to fade.