‘Belt and Road UnityWeek Festival’ to promote Malaysia to Chinese tourists

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur will be the first city to host the Belt and Road UnityWeek Festival this year, to showcase the uniqueness of the Malaysian culture to Chinese tourists besides promoting the country as a tourist hub.

The festival will be held annually during the Golden Week Holiday in China from October 1-7 when a surge of Chinese tourists are expected to visit Malaysia.

The UnityWeek Festival is also being held to display Kuala Lumpur as a tourist friendly city by showcasing the country’s renowned hospitality.

It is also held in conjunction with the 4th Asia Rainbow TV Awards ceremony and organised by Salcon Xinlian Sdn. Bhd, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and China International Cultural and Artistic Centre (CICAC).

“In view of the highly competitive China tourist market during the Golden Week holiday in China, it is important to create more reasons for them to choose KL as their holiday destination,” said Salcon Xinlian chief executive officer Julius See during a press conference, here yesterday.

One of the major attractions of the festival is to encourage Chinese tourists to enjoy shopping in the city’s shopping malls with discounts and promotions on merchandise and brands.

See, when asked by Bernama during the event, said RM4 million to RM5 million had been allocated for the festival which also includes a Belt and Road Unity Run, an eight-kilometre fun run to be held in October in conjunction with Malaysia Marathon.

Apart from the run, the inaugural Belt and Road Film Culture Festival is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on March 2018 and its flagship event is the 4th Asia Rainbow TV Awards ceremony.

The film and culture festival is expecting over 200 celebrities, producers, directors and VIPs from 20 Asian countries including China. - Bernama