Mega Sale Carnival To Have Middle Eastern Flavour: Yen Yen

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- This year's Malaysian Mega Sale Carnival (MMSC) with the theme "Malaysia Your Shopping Oasis" from July 4 to August 31, will have Middle Eastern flavour.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said Tourism Malaysia would be introducing various events based on the Middle-East concept.
A showcase of Middle Eastern music and performances, called the Samrah Festival, would be held at Bukit Bintang every Friday and Saturday from July 10, she told a press conference here Thursday.
She also said awards would be given to shopping malls and retailers who decorated their premises according to the theme.
"Categories for the Best Window Display Contest include departmental stores, specialty stores and food and beverages outlets while categories for the MMSC 2009 July Shopping Centres award include Central Bussiness District shopping centres and Suburban shopping centres," she added.
She said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, would launch MMSC 2009 on July 5 at Pavilion KL in Bukit Bintang.
Forty-four foreign journalists and television crews who were invited to Malaysia under the Mega Familiarisation programme in conjuction with the event would also be there. They were from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, China, India, Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
Asked about the low occupancy rate for the homestay programme, Ng said the ministry was reviewing it with a view to revitalising the programme.
"Homestay is a rural tourism economy and many foreign tourists prefer to stay at a homestay as they want to experience life in the village," she said.
Unfortunately, the homestay operators had not really understood the concept, she added.

tunku : if i am a tourist i would want to see something different from my country when i travel abroad.what's the point seeing the things that is in your own backyard unless it is meant for domestic tourist. malaysia should create to different scenario/environment where the tourist can only find it here and have new experiences.