MALAYSIA'S TOURISM MINISTRY AIMS RM28 MLN (US$ 5.9 MLN) IN SALES FOR ‘MY RAMADAN EXPERIENCE’ PACKAGE

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’a Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) aims to generate RM28 million in sales for the My Ramadan Experience 2024 programme, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor (a state in Malaysia) and Putrajaya (Malaysia’s administrative capital) during the fasting month.

MOTAC’s Deputy Minister, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, said the inaugural tourism package, an initiative of Tourism Malaysia, was designed to showcase the unique experience of celebrating Ramadan (Muslim Holy Month) in Malaysia.

It includes accommodation for up to five days and four nights in 32 hotels across the three locations in the country.

“A total of 1,000 pax have been sold and surely the number will increase because we launched this package two months ahead of Ramadan. When the imams (Muslim religious leaders) from China return to their home country, they will also help us promote this package,” he told reporters after launching the My Ramadan Experience programme at a hotel on Tuesday.

On Jan 10, 35 imams from 14 provinces in China came to Malaysia for a seven-day Imam Familiarisation Trip: Discover Muslim-Friendly Malaysia organised by the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and the Malaysian Inbound Chinese Association (MICA).

During the visit, which will conclude tomorrow, the imams are taken to seven iconic mosques and several renowned tourist spots across the country, including a durian orchard in Bentong, Pahang (a district in the Malaysian state of Pahang).

Meanwhile, Khairul Firdaus said that through the tourism package, the ministry aims to showcase the uniqueness of Ramadan celebrations in Malaysia to Muslim tourists worldwide.

“We want the global Muslim community to see Malaysia as a country worth emulating, not solely due to our promotion of Islam but also how we live harmoniously in a multicultural society.

“Visitors also have the opportunity to experience Ramadan activities in Malaysia, such as qiamullail (voluntary night prayer), communal iftar gatherings (fast-breaking gatherings), Ramadan bazaars (Ramadan marketplaces), tarawih prayers (special prayers during Ramadan) and savour the traditional bubur lambuk (porridge),” he said.

He added that if the programme succeeds, the ministry plans to expand it to several other states across Malaysia that have expressed interest.
-- BERNAMA