- Title: MALAYSIA: Muslims tourists crowd malls ahead of the festival of Eid
- Date: 5th August 2012
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (AUGUST 3, 2012) (REUTERS) KUALA LUMPUR STREET PETRONAS TWIN TOWER INTERIOR OF SHOPPING MALL
- Embargoed: 20th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- City:
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Economy,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA2N6WX8G4QXL3BXHKFZ3LY4M6Y
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- Story Text: With the Eid festival just around the corner, tourists are shopping in Kuala Lumpur, as they prepare for the celebrations.
The Malaysian capital is filled with Muslims from around the world, visiting during the holy month of Ramadan. While many are fasting, shopping malls in downtown Kuala Lumpur have been decorated with traditional Malaysian decors, with local retailers launching a slew of promotions to attract Muslims travellers.
"They have more shops here; they have expensive shops and also cheap shops. It's different. And there's a lot of new things here, that we don't have in Syria," said Hiba Hamami, a visitor from Syria.
Malaysia has an estimated 27 million people, of which 60 percent are Muslim. The self-proclaimed Muslim-friendly country, tries to cater to Muslim tourists, with an array of luxury brands at more affordable prices.
In fact, the president of luxury brands distributor, Melium Group in Malaysia, says Muslims tourists - especially visitors from the Middle East - like to visit Malaysia, due to its relatively cheaper prices.
"Malaysia is very competitive in terms of pricing in the region and I think the Arabs know about this. And they come to take advantage of the holidays they can have here, because we are very well priced even with hotels, foods and all those sort of things. So I think it's really wonderful that they have discovered us. Malaysia welcomes totally the Muslims world," said Farah Khan, president of Melium Group.
Khan added the company always handpicks Muslims related goods and rolls out promotions during the fasting month.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from having food and drinks from dawn to dusk.
They are encouraged to put more effort into learning about and adhering to the teachings of Islam.
Some Muslims visitors were fascinated by the differences between the Ramadan celebration in the multi-racial Malaysia and their home country.
"Because here is multinational, so part of the people that are not Muslims, so probably they don't celebrate Ramadan, that's why For example during the breakfast time in Saudi Arabia you hardly can find anybody in the street, but here the life probably normal," said Egyptian tourist, Raghied Atta who lives in Saudi Arabia.
An estimated one billion Muslims across the globe are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims will conclude the fasting month with a huge celebration of Eid Al-Fitr, the most important festival in the Islamic calendar, which is likely to fall on August 19 this year.
In Malaysia, Eid Al-Fitr is widely known as "Hari Raya Aidilfitri" which in local language, means "Celebration Day". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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