Sabah to also look to India for tourists
Published on: Thursday, March 26, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah which has been focusing on Chinese tourist arrivals for some time now may look at the Indian market next.Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the surge in Indian tourists visiting Malaysia in the last year make it a potential area that can be looked into. "We have always been talking about China but I believe we should also be looking west to India for instance and see how we can increase the arrival of Indian tourists in Sabah.
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"Last year we had a huge Indian wedding here and I believe there will be three more this year. Perhaps that is a niche market that could be developed."Masidi said this at the Festival of India in Malaysia, Folk Dance and Music from Punjab at National Culture and Art Department (JKKN) Complex on Tuesday.He also said this first time event of authentic dance performances staged by performers from Punjab in India would likely be the first of many Indian cultural performances in the State.He said given the small number of Indians in the State it is not very often that one gets to watch Indian cultural performances but the event had shown the many potential opportunities the State has in cultural exchanges with other countries like India.
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"It is obvious we want to see more, especially bhangra. We have always seen it in the movies but seeing it performed by the Indians themselves makes a huge difference."We hope there could be more occasions from time to time where we would be able to invite them to showcase the best of Indian dances.
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"Hence, we would like to see more interaction between the Sabahans and Indians and with the strong support of the Indian High Commissioner we should be expecting to see more Indian cultural performances in Kota Kinabalu."Also in attendance was the Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, T.S. Tirumurti and Director of the North Zone Cultural Centre, Professor Dr Rajinder Singh Gill.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman also hoped that the Festival of India in Malaysia would further cement the links between the two countries."I hope that perhaps one day, we in Sabah too can introduce to India the unique cultures that we have here, given that our State is a melting point of over 30 ethnic groups."I am confident that the visit of this popular dance troupe from India will go long way in strengthening cultural links between the two countries," he said in a speech delivered by Masidi.Tirumurti on the other hand said the festival will cover the major cities in Malaysia over a period of three and a half months with more than 50 different events planned."I am proud to bring the most vibrant dancers of India to Kota Kinabalu. The bhangra and gidda need no introduction to the people of Malaysia as there is a very large population of the Sikh community in this country."India and Malaysia share historical bonds and nowhere is it more manifest then the area of culture and art. There is no doubt that it is in these cultural links that brings our people together."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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