THE year 2015 is the best time to visit Malaysia as it celebrates Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest), with the theme “Endless Celebrations.” Continuing the success of last year’s campaign, Visit Malaysia Year 2014, MyFest showcases a yearlong schedule of more than 200 activities/events featuring the country’s multiracial culture and traditions.
To further boost the tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia launched on March 13 the first of its three international sales campaigns promoting Malaysia as the next top shopping destination, the 1Malaysia Grand Prix Sale, which concluded on April 5.
Also launched was the Sixth Malaysia International Shoe Festival (MISF), which also concluded last month. The launch was graced by Malaysia’s two top international fashion icons, Jimmy Choo and Zang Toi. The three-day festival organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association showcased over 100 local and international shoe brands. Dr. Ong Hong Peng, secretary-general of Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, handed the MISF Highest Award of Distinction to Choo, while the MISF Tourism Special Recognition Award was awarded to Zoi, who is also the brand ambassador for MISF 2015, for both of their world-class contributions to the fashion industry, and for bringing Malaysian talent known to the world.
Both events were in conjunction with the Formula One Petronas Grand Prix 2015, an annual major sporting event which attracts thousands of tourists all over the world eager to watch Formula One drivers weave around the tracks of the Sepang International Circuit. The race took place from March 27 to 29, and in between races tourists were encouraged to indulge in a Malaysian shopping experience that offered great bargains from participating top international and local brands.
The shopping sector is a major contributor in Malaysia’s tourist receipts, amounting to RM21.6 billion, or 30 percent of the total receipts of RM72 billion in 2014. With over 350 shopping malls spread around the country, Malaysia is considered a shopping haven by not a few. Among the top 10 largest malls in the world, three of them can be found in Malaysia: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Mid Valley Megamall and Sunway Pyramid, all at Klang Valley, considered as the place to experience the best shopping in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur was No. 4 in CNN’s World’s Best Shopping Cities in 2012 and 2013, next to New York, Tokyo and London. It is also ranked as the Second Best Shopping Destination in Asia Pacific by Globe Shopper Index, making it the best shopping destination in Southeast Asia and among the tops in Asia.
Ong said, “Malaysian shopping malls have become mini-tourist destinations, enticing locals and foreign tourists alike to seek shopping, entertainment and recreational fun, discover culinary delights, as well as enjoy health and sporting pursuits, and a gamut of other attractions.” He added that, for this year’s sales campaigns, the theme “Experiential Shopping” is being used to highlight the varied shopping experiences in the country.
The two other upcoming sales campaign are the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival, from June 27 to August 31, and the Malaysia Year-End Sale from November 14 to January 3, 2016.
Story & photos by Marianne Sarmiento | Special to the BusinessMirror