The Ministry of Tourism will intensify promotions of the next Malaysian International Shoe Festival (MISF) in the Middle East to
attract more Arab tourists.
Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said middle eastern tourists had an interest and appreciation for Malaysian-made shoes which they regard as unique, creative and of good quality.
“All Tourism Malaysia directors in middle eastern countries were asked to plan for early promotions so that more Arabs would gather at the festival next year,” she told reporters after meeting the Consul General of Malaysia in Dubai, Ahmad Fadil Shamsudin, and Tourism Malaysia’s senior officers, yesterday.
Ng led an 82-member Malaysian delegation to Dubai for the Arabian Travel Market 2011 being held from May 2 to 5 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).
She said the four-day MISF 2011 held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur last month managed to ring up sales of RM7 million from 60,000 visitors.
“Malaysia made shoes are now popular, not only in the Asean region, but also Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East,” she said.
She said Tourism Ambassador and world-renowned shoe designer Jimmy Choo also helped to boost the market for local shoes.
– Bernama