MALAYSIA LURES SUPERSTARS RAJNIKANTH AND SURYA FOR THEIR NEXT MOVIE SHOOTING

Malaysia has always been a favorite destination for Indian entertainment industry. Latest to join the trend is Tamil film industry, popularly known as Kollywood, superstars Rajnikanth and Surya who are currently in Malaysia for their next movie Kabali and S3 respectively.

Superstar Rajnikath is currently in Malaysia shooting for his next movie Kabali. The movie is shot in some of the exotic locations of Malaysia over next few weeks and also stars a couple of Malaysian actors. This is the second schedule of shooting and the superstar was earlier in Malaysia last year and was astonished to see his fan following in the country. Kabali is an ambitious project which is loosely based on the life of popular don Kabaleeswaran.

Similarly, for his third movie in the Singham franchise ‘S3’, superstar Surya has chosen Malaysia as his preferred destination. Surya and his team will be shooting some rare action sequences in the next three weeks. The first two movies of the franchise were major blockbusters. The team is hopeful that with some extensive martial art sequences at the serene backdrops of Malaysia, ‘S3’ will be the biggest blockbuster to wait for in 2016. The movie also stars Anushka Shetty and Shruthi Hassan.

Malaysia has always supported international movie industries from Bollywood to Hollywood. With a large Tamil speaking population and a huge fan following for Kollywood, shooting of superstars Rajnikanth and Surya only add to the glorious relationship Indian and Malaysia have always shared.

Tourism Minister of India inaugurates Tourism Malaysia Booth at SATTE 2016

Dr Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent charge) Ministry of Tourism & Culture, India inaugurated the Tourism Malaysia booth at SATTE recently. The Minister was joined by Dato’ Daljit Singh, Indian Community Relations Advisor to the Minister of Tourism & Culture Malaysia and a member of Tourism Malaysia Board of Directors. India is one of the top 10 tourist generating markets for Malaysia.

l-r-dr-mahesh-sharma-honble-minister-of-state-independent-charge-ministry-of-tourism-culture-and-dato-daljit-singh-indian-community-relations-advisor-to-the-minister-of-tourism

Tourism Malaysia is leading 50 Malaysian travel trade players and state tourism authorities to participate in the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE). It is in line with Malaysia’s efforts to boost arrivals from India, with as many as 7.7 lakh Indian tourists visiting Malaysia in 2014.

Leading the Malaysian delegation to the 23rd edition of SATTE is Dato’ Daljit Singh and he is accompanied by representatives from 18 travel agents/tour operators, three hotels/resorts, three tourism products/attractions, two state tourism authorities, and three airlines.

On January 30th, Tourism Malaysia is scheduled to give a special presentation to a group of women travellers, known as ‘Women With Wings’, to promote and launch the Malaysia Shopping Campaign. In the evening, an Appreciation Night will be held at The Imperial Hotel to thank travel agents who have helped promote and sell Malaysia to their clients. Besides that, the Malaysia Sales Carnival tour packages will also be launched.

To boost Indian arrivals, Tourism Malaysia will encourage and persuade more tour operators to develop and sell holiday packages to Malaysia with a focus on niche products like luxury travel, shopping, and sports tourism. A discussion will be carried out with the top travel trade associations in India, namely Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), India Tourism Golf Association, and Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI).

Tourism Malaysia’s participation in SATTE and its promotional efforts in India are expected to increase the number of Indian tourists to Malaysia. It aims to promote greater awareness of Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination, besides fostering greater cooperation between tour operators and members of the tourism fraternity.

MALAYSIA, Asia’s Best Golfing DESTINATION 2015

EASTWOOD MIRI & GOLF RESORT – SARAWAK

Malaysia’s golf tourism industry added another feather to its cap when the country took home the ‘Asia’s Best Golf Destination 2015’ award at the 2nd Annual World Golf Awards in Portugal recently. The Els Club Teluk Datai in Langkawi, which received the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ award last year, was conferred ‘Asia’s Best Golf Course 2015’.

Speaking of the achievement, Mr. Manoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia India said, “Malaysia takes pride in its golf courses that offer challenging fairways amidst spectacular sights, world-class facilities and amenities. We strongly encourage golfers from around the world to visit Malaysia not only to play golf but also to enjoy a wide range of fascinating tourist attractions.”

Playing on great golf courses in a range of different environments is what avid golfers like to do when they travel and this is exactly what Malaysia offers. Golf in Malaysia offers four completely different experiences. You can go back to nature and play golf in the jungle sharing the course with Asia’s biologically diverse plants and animals. Or head to the highlands and tee off several thousand feet above sea-level. You don’t need to miss a game even when you’re on an island as we have beachside courses awaiting the island going golfer. Or just play golf downtown! With over 200 golf courses which are accessible to visitors, you will never have to travel far to find a wonderful new golf experience. Add to this, you will also have plenty of time to enjoy the other delights on offer in every region of Malaysia.

World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world class courses and golf destinations. Golf tourism constitutes a vital segment in the global travel and tourism marketplace. An estimated 60 million golfer visits will take place in 2015 to the 32,000 golf courses and resorts worldwide.

The 2015 World Golf Awards focuses on the leading 130 nations who are shaping the future of this dynamic industry. While celebrating and rewarding excellence across golf resorts, courses and the golfing destinations throughout the world, World Golf Awards strives to ultimately raise the golf tourist customer experience and stimulate both the domestic and international golf tourism market.

Votes were made by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry – senior executives, travel buyers, tour operators, agents and media professionals. Votes were also cast by the public (golf tourism consumers). The voting works on a first-past-the-post system to ensure impartiality and independence. Votes were submitted online via the World Golf Awards website.

The winners of each national category went head-to-head with the winners of the other countries before the unveiling of the World Winners.

Tourism Malaysia and Malindo Air launch direct flights from Trichy to Penang

Tourism Malaysia and Malindo Air, a Malaysia based hybrid Airline, announced the launch of the first direct flight from Trichy to Penang today. Trichy Airport has become the first international airport to have direct flight services to Penang, Malaysia which is in addition to the 10 flight operations of Malindo Air to Kuala Lumpur from Trichy.
Malindo Air will operate two services a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The flight will depart from Penang airport at 8.30 pm and arrive at Trichy airport at 9.40 pm. In the return direction, it will depart from Trichy at 10.30 pm and reach Penang at 4.45 am, the following day. Malindo Air’s network carrier allows passengers from Trichy to Penang in connecting other domestic destinations in Malaysia as well.

Speaking at the launch Mr Noor Azman Samsudin, Director, Tourism Malaysia, Chennai said, “The decision by Malindo Air to start this new route emphasizes the value and importance of tourism, trade and business links between India and Malaysia. In fact, India is the 6th largest contributor to the tourism sector in Malaysia. We hope that this new air link will contribute to boost tourism in support of MYFEST 2015, encouraging Indian tourists to come more often and stay longer in order to enjoy the festival offerings nationwide”.

Mr Chandran Rama Muthy, Chief Executive Officer of Malindo Air said, “Firstly, we are excited to announce the wonderful news of our expansion in the cities of India. We foresee an encouraging passenger growth from South India, particularly Trichy, a huge market for Malaysia as a large portion of Malaysia’s Indian population is from this region of India.”

The special introductory offer is available now with return fares for Economy starting from INR 16852 inclusive of taxes with 30kgs baggage allowance, meals on board and the business class return fares of INR 48474 inclusive of taxes with 40kgs baggage allowance and meals on board for Trichy-Penang-Trichy. The Boeing 737-900ER series aircraft will operate in this sector, with a seating capacity of 180 which includes 168 Economy and 12 Business class seats.
A fascinating fusion of the East and West, Penang embraces modernity while retaining its traditions and old world charm. These are reflected in its harmonious multiracial populace and well-preserved heritage buildings which led to George Town being accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site recently. Long regarded as the food capital of Malaysia, Penang also entices visitors with its beautiful coasts and scrumptious cuisines. A must visit is by the funicular train to the top of the Penang Hill that offers fantastic views of the island, lush greenery, quaint colonial style architecture and cooler temperatures.

So if there is a place to be, it’s Penang!

Last year, Malaysia received 27.4 million tourists, which was an increase of 6.7%. This year Malaysia is expected to welcome of 29.4 million tourist arrivals and garner RM89 billion in tourist receipts.

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About Tourism Malaysia: MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2014, Malaysia registered 27.4 million tourist arrivals and RM72 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner.

Tourism Malaysia unveils special tourism packages at PATA Travel Mart 2015

As part of its continuing efforts to promote awareness on the celebration of Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest) 2015 in India and to boost arrivals from here, Tourism Malaysia launched special tourism packages at the PATA Travel Mart 2015 in Bangalore.

At a special media briefing session, Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director-General (International Promotion) Dato’ Haji Azizan Noordin announced that special tourism packages have been developed in conjunction with the upcoming 1Malaysia Year-End Sale (1MYES), to be held from 14 November 2015 to 3 January 2016. Dato’ Azizan is also the Chairman of PATA Malaysia Chapter.

“India is a significant contributor to tourism in Malaysia. In fact, India is the sixth top tourist market for us. Last year, we had 770108 Indian visitors which is 18% growth from 2013 (650989). We are hopeful that MyFEST 2015 will keep Malaysia as top-of-the-mind tourist destination, encouraging Indian tourists to stay longer in order to enjoy the festival offerings nationwide,” said Dato’ Azizan. Updating the media about new tourism developments and products in Malaysia, Dato’ Azizan emphasized that besides shopping, leisure and luxury holidays are also key focus areas this year. The media briefing session included presentations by the Shopping Secretariat, Legoland and Hello Kitty Representatives.

Dato’ Haji Azizan is accompanied by Malaysian sellers who will help promote the country to the global tourism market. Among the sellers include big names in the local tourism industry, such as Tourism Johor, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Lexis Hotel, Tourland Travel, Borneo Nature Tours, Asian Overland, World Express, Planet Borneo Tours, Legoland Malaysia, Theme Attractions & Resorts, and Flexiroam.

The décor of Tourism Malaysia’s booth at the PATA Travel Mart highlights the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MyFest) 2015 in an effort to step up promotion of the tourism campaign. It is also in line with the Government’s efforts to promote Malaysia as a culturally rich travel destination. As part of its promotional activity, Tourism Malaysia’s booth featured Teh Tarik and Batik drawing demonstrations.

During the participation at the PATA Travel Mart, Tourism Malaysia also organised various programmes for travel trade players to meet up and network among themselves, providing Malaysia’s tourism industry players the opportunity to strengthen ties with their Indian counterparts.

This year, the 38th PATA Travel Mart attracted more than 1,000 delegates from over 60 countries and facilitating over 10,000 pre-matched appointments, as well as brought together qualified international buyers and sellers for face-to face meetings, educational forums and networking functions.

Last year, Malaysia received 27.4 million tourists, which was an increase of 6.7%. This year Malaysia is expected to welcome of 29.4 million tourist arrivals and garner RM89 billion in tourist receipts.

About Tourism Malaysia: MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2014, Malaysia registered 27.4 million tourist arrivals and RM72 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner.

South East Asia as a Single Tourist Destination to The Indian Traveller

As a tourist , be a privy to ASEAN Experience!

The ASEAN Promotional Chapter for Tourism (APCT) – India Chapter got together in Mumbai on August 26, 2015 at ITC Grand Maratha Ball Room to promote ASEAN as a single and collective tourism destination to the Indian audience. APCT was conceived by the member countries of the ASEAN as part of its efforts to leverage the tremendous tourism potential of the region. More than 200 members of the trade fraternity, media and high level officials attended the meet here.

Mr Manoharan Periasamy, Chairman APCT – India Chapter said, “South East Asia has always been an attractive destination for Indians. In fact, India has consistently been one of the top 10 tourist generating markets to this region. Last year we had over 102 million visitors to the ASEAN countries and over 3 million were from India.” Mr Manoharan Periasamy is also Director, Tourism Malaysia, India.
“Historically Indians have been visiting Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. ASEAN has much to offer with the inherent diversity in terms of peoples, lifestyle, culture, religion and culinary experience, together with the rich natural landscape and deep historical heritage. Last year Myanmar saw a 50% increase in their tourist arrivals and India was a major contributor to it. Places like Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are also fast featuring on the Indian must visit countries list. These are all positive signs for us at APCT”, added Mr. Periasamy.
ASEAN recognizes the strategic role of the Tourism Sector in its economic growth and hopes that by 2025, the region will be a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse ASEAN experience, and will be committed to responsible, sustainable and inclusive tourism development, so as to contribute significantly to the socio-economic well-being of ASEAN people.

Through the APCT, numerous initiatives are being taken to ensure that the tourists get the best during their holidays in the ASEAN region. Special emphasis is being laid on enhancing product development through regional packages, increase in public awareness of ASEAN products and offerings, facilitation of intra-ASEAN travel etc. APCT is also identifying ways to standardise and implement a certain level of standard of tourism. Each individual country has been assigned the role of lead coordinators to ensure that the tourists can expect world-class facilities when they visit the South East Asian Nations. Areas like Homestay, Spa service, Security and safety guidelines, Clean tourist City standards, community based tourism standards are being finely looked into.

With some of the world’s best travelling experience awaiting the tourists at the ASEAN region, the members of the travel trade were urged to create special ASEAN packages like the immensely popular European packages. The ASEAN region has a plethora of offerings for the traveller: the best shopping destinations, theme parks for children, unexplored islands and adventure, cruise tourism, exotic spa treatments and the most beautiful wedding and honeymoon locales.

Officials at the APCT – India Chapter opined that the current need for multiple visas is hindering cross border tourism in the region. They informed that a proposal for an ASEAN Common Visa for non-ASEAN nationals to facilitate business mobility and tourism is in discussion. Smaller schemes such as the Cambodia-Thailand single visa have already been implemented and they have proven successful. Another example is the Malaysian VOA for Indian tourists coming from Singapore and Thailand.

Speaking at the event, Mr Dhananjay Saliankar, Regional Director, Starwood Sales Organisation, South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts said, “Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has a good presence in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. We have also entered new markets like Laos, Cambodia and Philippines in the recent past. Also Indians are familiar with our brands here in the country, be it Westin, Sheraton, Le Meridien, St Regis, W hotels or The Luxury Collection. So they look out for our brands in their holiday destinations and prefer to stay with us.” Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in over 100 countries. The chain operates over 65 hotels in the ASEAN region and is hopeful of increase in business especially in the MICE sector.

APCT – India Chapter aims to strengthen the presence of ASEAN region in the travel market, and to keep India’s travel trade, media and corporate sector updated on the current issues and tourism development in the region.

Last year the ASEAN region saw 102 million visitors with Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, being the top 5 visited countries and Myanmar and Laos registering the highest growth of 53% and 10% respectively.

Tourism Malaysia with AirAsia & Genting Highlands Presentation for Puducherry Agents!

Tourism Malaysia Chennai focused on tour operators and travel agents from Tier II city Puducherry to update latest products and highlight events lined up for Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015.

(From Left -4)Mr Noor Azman,Director,Tourism Malaysia, Chennai with officials from travel fraternity

According to Mr Noor Azman , Director, Tourism Malaysia, Chennai “After the success of the previous Visit Malaysia Year, we are delighted to promote our yearlong festivities this year which is celebrated as Year of Festivals 2015. This Event is to highlight the splendor at Malaysia which includes George Town Festivals(1-31 August 2015), Rain Forest Music Festival at Sarawak(7-9 August 2015), Malaysia International Mask Festival at Kuala Lumpur(14-16 August 2015), Borneo Cultural Festival at KLCC (14-16 August 2015) to name a few. The country’s biggest shopping extravaganza –– the annual 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale –– are back again, offering big bargains, huge discounts and fun-filled promotional activities put together by malls, retail stalls and other participating trades throughout Malaysia.”

 AirAsia was the Airline Partner and gave the latest updates on the fares and new routes launched from Vizag and Hyderabad to the front liners. Genting Highlands, the Product Partner gave an overview of the 2016 launch of the much anticipated 20th Century Fox Theme Park. The overwhelming response from the gathered participants made the event a highly successful one. The Event was marked with excitement as the lucky draw premium prize being a fully paid trip with accommodation to Malaysia.

MyFest 2015 is expected to help Malaysia achieve the targeted 29.4 million tourist arrivals and RM89 billion in tourist receipts for 2015.

 

SHOPPING MANIA ROCKS MALAYSIA!

The country’s biggest shopping extravaganza –– the annual 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale –– are back again, offering big bargains, huge discounts and fun-filled promotional activities put together by malls, retail stalls and other participating trades throughout Malaysia.

Running for over two months from today till 31 August, both salespulsate with excitement at a time when Ramadan bazaars also sprout up all over the country, lending a dynamic fusion of colours to the local shopping scene. Street bazaars and shopping malls are also hyping up with numerous offers for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations and the Merdeka Day public holiday.

The sales events were launched today by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Pengat the Marriot Putrajaya Hotel.

Adding to the excitement of both sales is the #beautifulMalaysia Online Contest, with weekly prizes to be won over 12 weeks from 15 June to 20 September. One grand prize and three consolations prizes are up for grabs every week. Grand prizes include a GoPro Hero 4, iPad Air 2, Canon EOS 100D and OPPO Find 5.

The contest, which is open to participants from all over the world, requires them to submit photos that best encapsulate the beauty of Malaysia in four categories, namely places, festivals, food and shopping. Photos can be uploaded on Instagram using the hashtag#beautifulMalaysia or directly on to the contest campaign website(www.tourism.gov.my/beautifulMalaysia).

Winning photos will be featured on postcards at the end of the campaign. These postcards together with other specially designed postcards bearing the theme Beautiful Malaysia will be placed at selected airports in the country. The postcards will also be used to further promote 2015 as Malaysia Year of Festivals, or MyFest 2015. Various festivals and events happening in the country will be highlighted on the postcards, which can easily be picked up by tourists visiting the country.

Besides the contest, two pocket events will also be held to coincide with the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2015, namely the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2015 (12 to 16 August) and Time Kulture, which is a timepiece exhibition (29 July to 9 August). Both events will be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

KLFW 2015 promotes local fashion designers and local brands, and creates opportunities for international recognition and further develops the Malaysian retail market for branded fashionable wear.Time Kulture Exhibition by Swiss Watch Gallery showcases the best of Swiss Watch makers renowned for the finest watch brands and high-end jewellery and accessories.

To boost the country’s shopping sector, Tourism Malaysia has embarked on promoting Experiential Shopping packages with lifestyle elements, encompassing culinary delights, entertainment, and recreation for the whole family. Besides that, places of interest around the malls are also being highlighted in the packages.

Tourism Malaysia has also earmarked specific areas with attractive shopping attributes and categorised them as Extended Shopping Zones. These include JalanTuanku Abdul Rahman Heritage Shopping Zone, Bandar Utama, Bandar Sunway and Subang Jaya in Selangor, George Town in Pulau Pinang, Johor Bahru in Johor, as well as Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.The Extended Shopping Zones will be promoted along with the major shopping districts in Kuala Lumpur, such as Bukit Bintang, KLCC and Central Market.

Tourism Malaysia is also producing the Shopping Malaysia Fun Maps that will make it easier for shoppers to find shopping attractions in different locations. These maps will come in handy for both locals and tourists to enjoy the best shopping experience in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s shopping sector is a major contributor to the country’s tourist receipts, amounting to RM21.6 billion or 30% of the total receipts of RM72 billion in 2014. The shopping sector continues to hold the second biggest share of tourist expenditure after accommodation, which was only higher by 0.3%.

Malaysian beaches, truly a world apart!

 Beautiful beaches and islands are synonymous with Malaysia. In fact, you are so spoilt for choice here that at times it’s difficult to choose one from the other. Tourists can now make better choices on which one to go by visiting www.101bestbeaches.com/malaysia, which lists 15 of the best beaches in Malaysia, according to famous beach critic and conservationist Brad Farmer. Farmer rates the beaches on a variety of criteria, such as budget, scenic views, activities, ease of travel, conservation efforts, and the pristine condition of the beaches.

This is the first time Malaysia’s beaches are being assessed and examined firsthand by a qualified and internationally renowned beach expert. The site features Pangkor Island, Perak; Batu Feringghi Beach, Penang; Coral Bay and Pasir Panjang Beach, Terengganu; Juara Beach, Pahang; Desaru Beach, Johor; Mabul Island and Mantanani Islands, Sabah; and Damai Beach, Sarawak.

The website is expected to attract more local and foreign travellers to visit beaches and islands in Malaysia, which is timely, as the country is celebrating the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015.

Mr Manoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia said, “Malaysia is blessed with a natural abundance of pristine beaches and marine parks.  Farmer is considered an authority on beaches and this recognition will help our guests make an informed decision about their beaches of choice and return home with memories that linger.”

Farmer has been writing bestselling books on beaches for over 30 years and he was a former Senate Adviser on coastal issues in Australia. He has travelled to over 35 beach nations to explore and write about beaches, coastal environments and seaside communities.

Malaysia Wins laurels as The Best International Destination – Food & Drinks 2014

Malaysia bagged The Best International Destination –Food and Drinks 2014 award at the Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards held in New Delhi. It was also double honours for Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) winning the Best International Duty Free Shopping award. Hosted by the world’s leading travel and lifestyle magazine, the winners were decided through a nation-wide poll amongst its readers.

 

Mr Manoharan Periasamy, Director General, Malaysia Tourism

On receiving the awards, MrManoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia said, “We are honoured to have been conferred this recognition. Shopping and Food -both are an integral part of travel and to be recognized for this motivates us to intensify our efforts to position Malaysia as a leading shopping and gastronomical destination to our guests.”

“Food is much more than just nourishment. It connects people. Since Malaysia is resplendent with diverse cultures, our food also reflects the ethnic mix of the local population spanning traditional Malay cooking to migrant Indian and the colonial Portuguese cuisine making Malaysian cuisine delectable for every taste bud”, added Mr Periasamy.

The Travel + Leisure awards is a significant achievement for Malaysia, a country that prides in its gastronomical delights. Malaysians are serious foodies. With their diverse cultures, celebrations and activities, there is always an excuse to Meet and Eat – whether it is at a restaurant, a fast-food outlet, or just a stall beneath the tree.

Besides the favourite ‘Satay’, some of the popular Malaysian dishes include NasiLemak, NasiKandar,Char kueyteow (flat rice noodles with shrimp, bean sprouts, egg and sweet Chinese sausage), Hokkienmee (egg noodles in a pork broth with prawns, egg, bean sprouts and water spinach) and Asamlaksa (thick noodles in a spicy fish broth with tangy asam, a sour tamarind paste).While in Kuala Lumpur a walk down the famous Bukit Bintang area is a good way to experience Malaysia’s street food. Gurney Drive, in Penang (the food capital of Malaysia) is another must visit place to see the deluge of hawker delights and exciting restaurants that come alive at night time.

It’s said food creates memories and Malaysian food will leave you with some lip smacking ones. The readers of Travel + Leisure will vouch for this.

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2013, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM 65.4 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner and the sixth highest contributor to its Gross National Income (GNI).

The promotion of the country continues with the MALAYSIA YEAR OF FESTIVALS (MyFEST) campaign in 2015 with the theme “Endless Celebrations” emphasising the various festivals celebrated by its multicultural society. Both campaigns are key drivers towards achieving the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area).