FIRST MALAYSIAN RAMADHAN FESTIVAL AT i-CITY TO LURE MIDDLE EAST TOURISTS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- To lure more visitors from the Middle East to the country, Malaysia's first round-the-clock summer Ramadhan Festival will be held in i-City, Shah Alam in the state of Selangor, during this Ramadhan month, beginning August.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said the ministry aimed at making Malaysia a
top Ramadhan destination since there was a steady increase in the number of
Middle East visitors into the country.
She said the i-City developer would work closely with the ministry to
outline 24-hour activities for the festival, including the estabilishment of
Devania, a place where visitors would have their activities after the 'buka
puasa'(breaking of fast).
She said i-City, among others, would provide prayer facilities and invite
imams from the Middle East, such as Dubai and Qatar, to lead the Tarawih
prayers.
"We held discussions with the i-City team Wednesday, and would collaborate
with i-City to have the first summer Ramadhan festival in Malaysia. We hope this
will encourage Middle East tourists to come to Malaysia," she told a news
conference Wednesday.
Dr Ng said tourist arrivals from the Middle East had increased in the first
quarter of the year, such as Saudi Arabia, by 11.3 per cent, United Arab
Emirates (21 per cent) and Iran (17 per cent).
More than 50,000 tourists from the three countries were recorded as having
arrived in the country in the first quarter of the year, she said, adding that
it was "very high".
According to research, the average Middle East tourist spends about
RM7,167.70 (US$2,171)during a 10-day visit here.
-- BERNAMA