Malaysia uses culture to leverage tourism
Malaysia's culture, arts and crafts are being used to promote the Southeast nation as a tourism destination in the UK.
Batik painting, silver and woodcraft are on display in Londons Covent Garden as part of Malaysia Week, the showcase includes music, dance, food and a fashion show.
This is the largest promotional event of this kind in London this year, we hope it will increase awareness and bring tourists to Malaysia,says UK High Commissioner for Malaysia, Abdul Aziz.
A 105 member delegation, comprising of officers from various ministries, agencies, craft entrepreneurs, cultural troupe and media representatives have descended on London for the event.
Some 200 kilograms of tropical fruit and 700 orchid cuttings have also been flown in for display and sale at the exhibition, which runs from 17 to 21 May 2006.
This event goes beyond tourism, whilst tourism is a pivotal target, it is a way of introducing the UK and Londoners about what we have in store from Malaysia in terms of culture, Rais Yatim, Minister of Culture for Malaysia told BTN.
Malaysian crafts such as pewter, ceramics, crystals, woodcrafts and pearls are also on display, as well as an exhibition by Malaysian artists.
Visitors are also able to make on-the-spot holiday bookings, since travel agencies, Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines all have a presence on-site.
It has been dubbed as a holistic effort by the Malaysian authorities to promote their country overseas through culture, arts, handicrafts, agricultural and food products, as well as tourism offerings.
Through the language of craft -- as you know the arts speak a neutral language -- the attraction is very positive indeed and with 300,000 British tourists visiting Malaysia every year, we feel this part of this culture will be deep in their hearts as well, explained Yatim to BTN.
The event is the first of its kind for Malaysia with the Ministry of Culture, Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Development, Agriculture and Tourism all collaborating for the exhibition.
"The event will be a yardstick. If successful, the Cabinet has agreed that the ministry hold a similar programme in other places," Yatim told the Bernama news agency.
Malaysias promotion of handicrafts alongside tourism products comes as more than 500 people from 35 countries meet in Tehran for the world's first conference on tourism and handicrafts.
Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister of Culture on how "Malaysia Week" goes beyond tourism in promoting the country. Click here for live interview>>
Fore more on information on Malaysia, Truly Asia cultural highlights you can click on the video link here>>
Malaysia Week mirrors UNWTO event
The UNWTO event aims to define the links between handicrafts and tourism.
Handicrafts form a vital component of tourism world wide. They are a multi-billion dollar industry which provides the livelihood of millions of craftsmen and women, says Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General.
Tourists increasingly want to buy genius local crafts and in doing so provide work and help to protect the culture of the host country, he added.
Handicrafts and their interactions with tourism can be used as an instrument in creating a dialogue between peoples and nations in the coming global society.