Malaysia Cultural Week To Boost Turkish Tourist Arrivals

From Nor Fariza Mohd Razhi ISTANBUL (Turkey), Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia is confident of an increase in the number of Turkish tourists to Malaysia through the promotion of travel packages to Malaysia in conjunction with the Malaysia Cultural Week 2014 to be held at the Cevahir Square here. Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (Promotions) Azizan Noordin said the Malaysia Cultural Week would be held for four days starting on Sept 5 and had the support of the Turkish tourism industry and media. Until May this year, a total of 7,802 Turkish tourists had visited Malaysia, an increase of 62 percent compared to 4,837 tourists in the same period last year, he told Malaysian reporters here Tuesday. "What is more remarkable is that Tourism Malaysia has received the cooperation of Turkish Airlines to fly seven times a week to Malaysia," he said. Azizan said more than 80 percent of Turkish Airlines passengers are Turkish citizens who come to Malaysia for tourism purposes. He said Malaysia Airlines also flew tourists from Turkey three times a week. The Malaysia Cultural Week themed 'Culture of 1Malaysia' aims to promote Malaysia and to introduce Malaysian culture to the international community in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014. About 17 booths will be opened from 10 am to 6 pm from Sept 5 to 7 and among the activities organised are Malaysian cultural performances, craft demonstration and sales, art exhibits and painting demonstrations and displays of fashion and textiles. The programme organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and will be launched by its Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz on Sept 6. --BERNAMA