acrosstheSTRAITS
acrosstheSTRAITS
across the Straits
In this issue:
Special features
2014 Visit Malaysia Year
Well known for its alluring realm of scenic landscapes and
luscious delicacies to soothe the palate, the ever-blossoming vibrant economy of Malaysia is home to a land
of sensory bewilderment. Having ranked as the fourthbest shopping city in the world by CNN for two consecutive years, Kuala Lumpur has evolved from a modest and
shrouded settlement to a bustling city it is today. The cultural and ethnic diversity of the country has made it one
of the prime travel destinations in the world today. With
the intention to distinguish itself from the rest of the world,
Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) was first put in motion in the year
1990 with the theme Fascinating Malaysia, Year of Festivals,
where they appointed the Orang Utan—a member of the
imperiled community of animals who holds residence in
the East of Malaysia, to be the mascot that year. The launch
was a tremendous success with Malaysia raking up 7.4 million in visitors that year in comparison to 4.8 million in the
previous year. VMY 2014 will see the assignment of the
Proboscis Monkey as the mascot—another mammal that
is on the brink of extinction in the dewy tropics of East Malaysia. It epitomises the abundance of wildlife, biodiversity
and preservation efforts that are entrenched within the
Malaysian community. It is the nation’s most momentous
and glorious tourism celebration in line with the nation’s
boundless spectacles of year-round events, festivals and
activities. To kick off VMY 2014 on January 4th, the skylines
will be illuminated with incandescent firework displays followed by a medley of cultural musical performances.
with the support of
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