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Kota Kinabalu: The 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (1MMSC) has been a signature tourism event in Malaysia and successful in positioning the country as a value-for-money tourist destination, said Malaysia Tourism Board Director, Datuk Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahmood.
Adlin, who is also Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, said the 1MMSC is among mportant events in Malaysia’s tourism calendar due to the lure of shopping in the country.
“As a shopping destination, Malaysia’s earns points for its excellent currency exchange rate affordable-priced goods, great variety of local and international brands, landmark shopping mall, etc,” he said, when launching the 1MMSC 2012 – Fly! Stay! Shop! at the 1Borneo Hypermall, Saturday.
The 1MMSC, which will run from July 1 to Sept 30, is organised to promote the country as a shopping heaven and increase tourist arrivals to the country.
“This year, its an extra special since it coincides with several major and exciting events such as Euro 2012 (June 8 to July 1), 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival (from July to September) Ramadhan month (July 21 – Aug 18 and Aidilfitri (Aug 19),” he said.
Adlin said several other efforts have been initiated by the Government to enhance Malaysia’s position as a shopping destination such as duty-free shopping destination status beginning 2011 – with the abolishment of import duties on 328 items including cosmetics and perfumes, leather goods, jewellery and clothing among others.
“Its marks the country’s efforts to be a heaven for luxury shopping.
This move gives the Malaysian retail industry a boost and that it will attract a wider range of international retailers to invest in Malaysia. This in turn will ad variety and diversity to our retail landscape,” he said.
According to him, as a result of public and private partnerships and initiatives in tourism, a total of 24.7 million tourists visited Malaysia in 2011, generating a revenue of RM58. 3 billion.
“Of this, shopping expenditure registered about RM17.5 billion compared to RM16.2 billion in 2010, signifying a growth of 1.3 per cent.
“It constituted about 30 per cent of total tourist expenditure in 2011 compared to 28.7 per cent in 2010. In 2000, when the first Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival was organised, shopping only constituted 23.1 per cent of total tourist expenditures,” he said.
Adlin said that for this year’s 1MMSC, 1Borneo Hypermall will be part of the campaign and an exciting instant redemption mechanism-Fly Stay! Shop! Fly with MASWings, Stay with Novotel Hotel/Grand Borneo Hotel/Courtyard Hotel and Shop at 1Borneo Hypermall will be a special reward to all shoppers or tourist to Sabah.
This instant redemption is divided into two different segments which are catered for local customers and foreign shoppers or visitors.
Also present were Deputy Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board Datuk Sari Suhut, State Director of Tourism Malaysia Mohd Roslan Abdullah, 1Borneo Hypermall Director Jefveleon Rengga and its operations manager Leben Siddarth Kuppusamy.
Source : Daily Express