Cultural performances during the Jordan Festival are set to take place among the ruins of the ancient city of Jerash.
Malaysia
Malaysia is promoting itself as the ideal destination to spend Ramadan this year for families from the GCC, and even launched a special ‘Malaysian Ramadan tourism package’ at this year’s Arabian Travel Market.
Malaysia’s Minister for Tourism Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, says: “We believe that Malaysia is the destination of choice to spend Ramadan. Why? Number one, commonality of religion; number two: we are east of the Middle East so the daylight hours will be shorter for guests; third, our Ramadan celebrations are quite different to the Middle East. Our Ramadan New Year is the most important New Year for the Malays in Malaysia.
Fourth, in Malaysia there is a very peculiar culture whereby non-Muslims will also join with Muslims in breaking fast regardless of their religion. People all come together. And last but not least the month of Ramadan is the month of Ramadan bazaars.
Advertisement
It’s the only month of the year where many housewives and homemakers will cook very special food and sell it at the bazaars. You will find that the whole country waits for these bazaars. It’s a celebratory occasion.”
Dr Ng adds that as part of the drive to encourage more Gulf visitors to Malaysia during Ramadan, the shops will be opening later and hotels will offer lavish iftar buffets. “We will look at having the shops to open longer hours at night because it’s so unique to the Arab world that during Ramadan people shop till two or three in the morning.
“Hotels taking part in this programme will also be changing the hours at which they serve food and the type of food they serve. In Malaysia every hotel during Ramadan will always have a sumptuous buffet served as the whole country celebrates.”
Another draw is the Qur’an reading competitions aired nightly on Malaysian TV.
Dr Ng adds: “We are a very modern, progressive Islamic country, and any Muslim that comes to Malaysia will feel very comfortable – from the perspective of food, prayer times and religious practices. They will feel very at home and yet they experience very different experiences, because Malaysia is an Islamic country but with great diversity.
She adds: “Because Ramadan and summer will be with us for the next four years we would like to see Malaysia be the Ramadan tourism destination of choice.”
HOW TO SELL:
Key draws: Ramadan bazaars, Qu’ran reading contests on TV, late night shopping and hotels serving lavish iftars buffets.
How to get there: Emirates, Etihad and Gulf Air all fly to Kuala Lumpur. Oman Air recently also started flights from Oman to Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
Tel: +971 4337 7578
Email: mtpb.dubai@tourism.gov
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
