Malaysia looks to a new breed of tourists
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Malaysia is looking to attract a wider range of tourists to its shores with shoe couturier Professor Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo OBE spearheading the campaign.
In an exclusive interview with Travel Daily UK, the man who creates shoes that are the desire of every woman, revealed his ambitions to make his home country Malaysia not only attractive to tourists from all walks of life, but a centre of craftsmanship where the art of hand-made couture was kept alive and kicking.
In addition, Tourism Malaysia, supported by Choo, is branching out to new niche markets by opening the first Malaysian show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London - an initiative backed up by a campaign to get the UK travel trade selling horticultural tours of Malaysia where the tropical climate breeds unique fauna and flora.
Professor Choo, who grew up on the Malaysian island of Penang, but now lives and works in London, said it was important to him to “give something back” to his country.
With this in mind, he accepted the offer to become Tourism Ambassador of Malaysia last year in a bid raise the profile of the destination.
And although Jimmy Choo is a name synonymous with luxury, he insisted his new role was designed to “encourage hosting a shoe exhibition – ‘Million Dollar Shoe Showcase Gallery’ in Malaysia in April (2-4) and speaking at the event himself.
“I am concerned that in 15 years’ time, there will be no hand craft and everything will be made by machine,” he said.
“My job is to tell people about art and skill and my vision is for Malaysia to become a centre for such craftsmanship. Once we have a college in Malaysia, I hope people from all over Asia will come to study there.”
Choo currently travels from London to Malaysia at least twice monthly, mainly for business, but when he is not working, likes to visit Penang, the Cameron Highlands and Pangkor Laut.
He also stressed that he always flew with Malaysia’s national carrier, even if travelling onto somewhere else in Asia.
“The airline has the best cabin crew - they are always well briefed - plus the best satay in the sky.”
In addition to promoting Malaysia as a centre for art, craft and design, Choo will also attend the Chelsea Flower Show (25-29 May) where the tourism board will do its best to bring the country’s natural beauty alive in the UK.
Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen will open the show garden, which will be the show’s first full-size tropical garden in the event’s history.
The garden, which has been designed by James Wong, who is of Malaysian descent, is described as a “chic, ultra-modern reinvisioning of a traditional Malay village known as a Kampung”, said the tourism board.
It will have a rainforest feel and aims to use an array of native plants from Malaysia, including some very rare and unusual species not known outside of the country. Plants and flowers featured in the garden will include Asian strangler figs, rare slipper orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants.
Tourism Malaysia marketing manager UK Danielle Porter is currently speaking to UK tour operators about putting together horticultural tours and packages to Malaysia is order to further promote this aspect of the country.
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