This is what makes Malaysia truly unique

By Christian Fleetwood

‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ is Malaysia’s tourism brand, and it couldn’t be more fitting for this nation.

Even though international travel from Australia will remain off the cards for most of us until at least 2021, there are still plenty of reasons to ensure your knowledge of the world’s tourism offerings remains tip-top.

Case in point: the stunning nation of Malaysia. Here’s a rundown of what makes this Southeast Asian nation unique, and what gives it its point of difference.

Practically located in the middle of Southeast Asia, Malaysia has been a long time strategic and natural meeting point with a modern multicultural population of some 31.53 million people.

Malaysia is a country with fascinating people, a broad range of attractions, and a vast array of cuisines inherited from its three major cultures: the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Standout dishes – and foods that cannot be missed on a trip to the nation – include Malaysia’s national dish, Nasi Lemak.

Other yummy eats you’ll find in the streets of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur include Nasi Kerabu, a local rice-based dish with a twist – traditionally, the rice in Nasi Kerabu is naturally dyed blue and cooked together with petals of the butterfly pea flower. The dish is served with salted eggs, fried fish or chicken, sambal, fermented fish paste, coconut, stuffed green chillies, or fish crackers.

Nasi Kerabu (source: Tourism Malaysia)

Along with the ethnic traditions of the Kadazan-Dusun, Iban and many more in Sabah and Sarawak, modern Malaysia is formed of a delightful multicultural fabric – a potpourri enriched further with the influence of the British, Portuguese, Dutch and Thais, which can be felt through the nation’s cities.

Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is undoubtedly one of Asia’s most exciting and lively cities. Among its towering skyscrapers are remnants of Kuala Lumpur’s rich past in the form of pre-war structures, providing an interesting contrast of two different eras.

Malaysia’s other destinations such as Melaka, Penang, Langkawi, Terengganu, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu – which we’ll be exploring in future coverage across Travel Weekly – each have their own unique charms, with some of the destinations recipients of UNESCO awards.

These include the World Heritage City of George Town, World Heritage City of Melaka, World Heritage Site of Kinabalu Park, World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu National Park, and Langkawi’s UNESCO Global Geopark.

Malaysia’s lush and well-preserved natural landscape is perfect for a wide range of eco-adventures, with rainforests such as Taman Negara – one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests – being home to some of the world’s rarest animals, and rich biodiversity.

According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Malaysia is home to an estimated 15,000 species of vascular plants, 306 species of mammals, 742 species of birds, 242 species of amphibians, 567 species of reptiles, more than 449 species of freshwater fish, over 500 species of marine fish, and more than 150,000 species of invertebrates.

Langkawi Geopark (source: Tourism Malaysia)

But before you decide to send someone to Malaysia, you ought to know how the country will ensure travellers stay safe in the health and hygiene prioritised era beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

To restore confidence in travelling, assuring the public that Malaysia is now safe to travel, various actions and initiatives including implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been set-up by authorities, with the latest updates disseminated through Tourism Malaysia’s official website and social media platforms.

The application of certification programs is also one of the initiatives taken by industry players to ensure the safety and hygiene of their premises. Among such initiatives is the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ (MAH) recently launched hygiene and safety label, called ‘Clean and Safe Malaysia’.

The safety label provides a certification program designed specifically for hotels and resorts in compliance with both local regulatory requirements and international standards.

Tourism Malaysia, on the other hand, plays a part as an intermediary to ensure these initiatives by the industry players are conveyed to the public, both locally and internationally.

Furthermore, Malaysia’s airports are also keeping safety front-and-centre.

To discover more about Malaysia and all it has to offer, click here.

Featured image: Sarawak Cultural Village (source: Tourism Malaysia)

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