Work to continue to enhance nation’s position as shopping hub

0

MIRI: Tourism Malaysia and Secretariat Shopping Malaysia will continue to enhance the nation’s position as a shopping hub, making it one of the world’s premier and most vibrant shopping destinations.

Shopping is a lucrative component of the nation’s tourism industry, Tourism Malaysia Sarawak deputy director Rosalina Abdul Rahim said at the Era Mini Concert held in conjunction with ‘1Malaysia Year End Sale 2014’ here yesterday.

“It holds the second biggest share of tourist expenditure after the accommodation sector. The year 2013 registered RM65.4 billion in tourist receipts, which was an increase of eight per cent against the receipts of RM60.6 billion in 2012,” said Rosalina.

Back in the year 2000, when the first Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival was launched, shopping only constituted 23.1 per cent of the total tourist expenditure, she added.

“Malaysia has long recognised the importance of shopping; to help drive the growth of the country’s tourism sector.

Hence, the formation of Secretariat Shopping Malaysia in 2000 under the ambit of Tourism Malaysia which aims to develop Malaysia as a leading international shopping destination,” she said.

Rosalina said through close co-operation between the government and Malaysian tourism trade players in developing the country’s shopping sector, Malaysia successfully garnered various international recognitions.

“For two consecutive years (2012-2013), Kuala Lumpur was ranked by CNN Travel as the fourth best shopping city in the world, after New York, Tokyo and London. The city was ahead of Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, making it the best shopping destination in Southeast Asia and among the top in Asia,” said Rosalina.

CNN Travel acknowledged Kuala Lumpur’s impressive score which was attributed to the city’s winning combination of high quality shopping, affordable prices and reliable sales, which can stretch for several months.

Meanwhile, Secretariat Shopping Malaysia also acknowledged the National Shopping Campaigns help boost tourist arrivals. Since 2007, tourist arrivals have increased between 0.4 per cent and 7.6 per cent during the thrice yearly national shopping campaigns namely – 1Malaysia GP Sale (March to April), 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (July to Aug 1) and 1Malaysia Year-End Sale (November to December).

Among those present were Boulevard Group of Companies chief executive officer Don Yew Hoon, Boulevard functions and marketing manager Eric Jong and Astro Radio Sarawak operations manager Dharmendrea Sayna.