BY: KARTIK SUBRAMANIAM

Malaysia’s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism should, through Tourism Malaysia, embark on a strategic mission to promote the nation as Asia’s top shopping destination as there are malls in every nook and cranny of this country.

There is that strong possibility, which Tourism Malaysia must not discount or dismiss, as the country can , by relative ease, outpace other countries in the Asian region to vie for pole position to be”the” shopping destination for everyone

Is this wishful thinking? Let’s weigh the situation. Right now Malaysia is arguably Asia’s most attractive tourist destination luring hordes of tourist arrivals and foreign visitors who indulge and enjoy all the major attractions this country has to offer.

But what most foreigners and locals like to focus on when they are in Malaysia is the array of gastronomic food available, and, to a lesser extent, the shopping outlets and malls as there is not much attention paid to them.

Therefore, there must be a shift in thrust, as many people in this world are familiar with Malaysian food, by switching publicity and awareness campaigns to draw more people, both foreign visitors and domestic tourists, to flock to shopping malls.

This market is largely untapped as yet and can be explored comprehensively by Tourism Malaysia to be a boom sector which can turn out to be a major money spinner and revenue earner for the Malaysian tourism industry.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher