KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The Malaysia Cultural Week 2024 in Urumqi, China, from today until Sunday is part of the government’s efforts to promote the country’s tourism products overseas.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) event management undersecretary Rosnan Abdul Rahman said among the products to be highlighted is Islamic tourism, considering that half of the population of Xinjiang, where Urumqi is located, is Muslim.
“We aim to promote Muslim-friendly tourism. The Islamic Tourism Centre of Malaysia under Motac will plan attractive packages to be marketed there, taking into account their preferences,” he said on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme last night.
Rosnan said the diversity of Malaysia’s culture and arts must be showcased internationally to attract more tourists, similar to efforts by neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand.
“Malaysia’s diverse communities, including Malays, Chinese, Indians, indigenous peoples and the ethnic groups of Sabah and Sarawak, have unique cultures. We aim to make these cultural aspects tourism products in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign,” he said.
Meanwhile, Motac international relations undersecretary Christina Yeo Ken Yin said the Musang King durian is in high demand among China’s people.
“Some of them, when they come to Malaysia, request fresh durian at farms. We are exporting frozen durian products to China, but the demand for fresh durian has increased,” she said.
She said Malaysia is preparing to join the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, led by China, to collaborate in the field of culture, particularly in the conservation and preservation of arts, culture and heritage.
The Malaysia Cultural Week, held in conjunction with the 8th China-Eurasia Expo, will also promote Malaysia’s traditional cuisine.
— Bernama
