PETALING JAYA, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing today urged shopping mall operators, retailers, hoteliers, travel agents, and other industry stakeholders to work closely with the government to strengthen Malaysia’s shopping tourism ecosystem.
He said close cooperation was crucial to creating more attractive and memorable experiences for visitors, while positioning Malaysia as a leading shopping destination in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
“The success of shopping tourism requires close cooperation between the government and the industry, so that we can continue to support shopping malls, retailers, hoteliers, travel agents, and other key players in creating unforgettable experiences for visitors,” he said.
His speech was delivered by Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man at the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association Awards Gala Dinner here tonight.
Tiong said shopping had become an important component of Malaysia’s tourism industry, with shopping malls evolving into destinations that bring together retail, lifestyle, culture, food and entertainment.
He said this presented opportunities to the industry player to offer visitors experiences beyond conventional shopping, in line with the government’s objective under VM2026 to position Malaysia as a leading shopping destination.
“Shopping tourism is not only about what visitors buy, but also about the experiences and memories they make,” he said.
Tiong said sales campaigns such as the Malaysia Mega Sale and Malaysia Year-End Sale could help stimulate tourist and domestic spending, while providing local businesses, retailers and talents with opportunities to showcase their products and offerings.
He said festive celebrations and cultural activities held at shopping malls could similarly help introduce visitors to Malaysia’s rich heritage, customs, food, arts and way of life.
Therefore, Tiong urged shopping destinations to continuously improve their services, convenience and innovation to remain competitive and attract more domestic and international visitors.
Also present at the event were Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah; Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK) founder and advisor Datuk Ngeow Voon Yean; PPK Malaysia president Phang Sau Lian; and Malaysian Association of Theme Park and Family Attractions (MATFA) president Tan Sri Richard Koh.
The gala dinner recognised the achievements and contributions of shopping malls and industry players in advancing Malaysia’s shopping mall industry through the Awards for Best Experiential Marketing, Awards for Top Sustainability Practices and PPK Malaysia Legacy Awards.
-- BERNAMA