Walaweiiiiiii !!! Time flies sooooo fast and today we are celebrating Chinese New Year on 22nd January and soon we will celebrate Ramadhan .. Really really fast these times flies ..
新年快乐！我们祝您和您的家人合家平安、工作顺利，财源广进
Wahhh you can speak Chinese maa ???
haha i wish i can as per now I only manage to use Google Translator which i hope it will means Happy New Year! We wish you and your family safety, smooth work, and an abundance of wealth”… if it’s NOT , please let me know ok and I will change it .
So today we are celebrating Chinese New Year and Chinese New Year is an important festival in Malaysia.
Everybody in Malaysia entitle to have 2 days PUBLIC HOLIDAYS in conjunction of Chinese New Year same as HARI RAYA’s Public Holiday ..
Let’s talk a little bit about Chinese New Year and it’s impact in Inbound Tourism Industry
The Chinese New Year festival is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in Malaysia and it plays a significant role in boosting the country’s inbound tourism industry. This festival is a time when families come together to celebrate and honor their ancestors, and it is a time of great joy and celebration.
The Chinese New Year festival attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world, particularly from China and other Asian countries. This is due to the fact that the festival is celebrated by a large number of Chinese Malaysians, and it is a time when many Chinese people travel to visit their families. Additionally, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and traditional customs such as lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks, that attract a lot of visitors.
The Chinese New Year festival provides a unique and authentic cultural experience for visitors. Many tourists are drawn to the country during this time to witness the colorful and vibrant celebrations and to learn more about Chinese culture. This is particularly true for visitors from Western countries, who may be less familiar with the customs and traditions associated with the Chinese New Year.
The festival also provides an opportunity for the tourism industry to showcase the best of Malaysia, particularly its food and activities.
The Chinese New Year is a time when many traditional Chinese dishes are prepared and served, and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of delicious food and drink while they are in the country. Additionally, many cities and towns in Malaysia host night markets and street festivals during the Chinese New Year, which provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the traditional customs and culture of the Chinese New Year in a lively and festive atmosphere.
According to data from the Tourism Malaysia, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia has been consistently increasing in recent years. In 2019, Chinese tourists accounted for the largest number of tourists visiting Malaysia, with a total of 4.1 million visitors. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years as the Chinese New Year festival continues to attract more Chinese tourists to Malaysia.
Therefore, Chinese New Year festival plays a significant role in boosting the country’s inbound tourism industry and increasing tourist arrivals, particularly from China.
The festival provides Chinese tourists with a unique and authentic cultural experience, and it provides an opportunity for the tourism industry to showcase the best of Malaysia. The festival is a key driver of tourism and it is expected to continue to be a major contributor to Malaysia’s tourism industry in the future.
For many years in a row before Covid19 Corona came , Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) used to organise Annual Lion Dance in Kuala Lumpur especially in Dataran Merdeka to celebrates Chinese New Year with tourists.
let’s see why Chinese tourists from China and other countries love to go to Malaysia during Chinese New Year festivals:
- Cultural Connections: The Chinese New Year festival is an important cultural event for Chinese people and it is celebrated with traditional customs such as lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks. These celebrations provide a unique and authentic cultural experience for Chinese tourists, allowing them to connect with their heritage and traditions.
- Familiarity: Malaysia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists due to its proximity to China, and the fact that it has a large Chinese population. This means that Chinese tourists will find many familiar foods, customs and traditions, making it a comfortable and familiar destination to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
- Weather: Chinese New Year falls in the middle of winter in China, and many Chinese tourists prefer to escape the cold weather and celebrate the festival in a warmer destination. Malaysia’s tropical climate makes it an ideal destination for Chinese tourists to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
- Shopping and Food: Malaysia is known for its shopping and food. Chinese New Year is a time when many Chinese people exchange gifts and food is an important part of the celebrations. Visitors can find many traditional Chinese goods, in addition to the local Malaysian products, which make good souvenirs and gifts.
- Festivals and events: Many cities and towns in Malaysia host night markets, parades and street festivals during the Chinese New Year, which provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the traditional customs and culture of the Chinese New Year in a lively and festive atmosphere.
All of these reasons make Malaysia an attractive destination for Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year festival, and it’s a good opportunity for Malaysia’s tourism industry to attract visitors and boost the economy.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE CELEBRATING CHINESE NEW YEAR IN CHINA AND CELEBRATING IN MALAYSIA ?
There are several differences between celebrating Chinese New Year in Malaysia and in China:
- Cultural influences: Malaysia has a diverse population, with a significant Chinese population, which has had a strong influence on the country’s culture and traditions. As a result, the celebrations in Malaysia often blend Chinese customs with local traditions, making it unique compared to the celebrations in China.
- Weather: China experiences cold weather during the Chinese New Year, while Malaysia is generally warm and tropical. This means that celebrations in Malaysia are often held outdoors, with street parades, lion and dragon dances, and fireworks being a common feature of the celebrations.
- Food: Food is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and in China traditional dishes such as dumplings, fish, and glutinous rice cakes are commonly eaten. In Malaysia, visitors can also find traditional Chinese dishes, but they can also find a wide variety of Chinese-Malaysian fusion food which is unique to Malaysia
. - Festivals and events: Many cities and towns in Malaysia host night markets, parades and street festivals during the Chinese New Year, which provide visitors with an opportunity to experience the traditional customs and culture of the Chinese New Year in a lively and festive atmosphere. In China, the New Year is celebrated mainly within families, and less focus is given to the events and festivals.
- Language: The official language in Malaysia is Malay, and although many Malaysians speak Mandarin, it’s not the official language, which may make it harder for Chinese visitors to communicate than in their home country.
All these differences make the Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia unique and an attractive destination for Chinese tourists who want to experience a different perspective of their culture and tradition, and at the same time enjoy.
What about YEE SANG TOSS ??
Yee Sang, also known as “Prosperity Toss” or “Lo Hei”, is a traditional Chinese dish that is commonly served and consumed during the Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia and Singapore. It is typically a salad dish made with raw fish and various other ingredients such as shredded vegetables, nuts, and sauces. The dish is typically prepared and served at the table and then tossed by the diners.
It is true that Yee Sang is not a traditional Chinese New Year dish and it is not commonly consumed in China. Yee Sang originated in Malaysia and has since spread to other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore. It is not a traditional dish in China, and it is not typically consumed during Chinese New Year celebrations. However, it is becoming more popular in China.
This means that for Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia, it could be a unique and new experience for them to try Yee Sang, and it could be considered as a cultural and culinary experience for them to try a different aspect of Chinese culture. It also offers an opportunity for the tourism industry in Malaysia to showcase their unique culture and traditions to Chinese visitors.
is there any unique activities in conjunction of chinese new year festival for chinese tourist to experience while celebrating in Malaysia?
Yes, there are a few experiences that cannot be found in China but only in Malaysia during Chinese New Year festivals:
- Releasing sky lanterns: Releasing sky lanterns during Chinese New Year is a tradition that is specific to Malaysia and Singapore. It’s not a common practice in China, and Chinese tourists can experience this unique tradition while celebrating Chinese New Year in Malaysia.
- Cultural Workshops: Workshops focused on traditional Chinese arts and crafts such as Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, paper-cutting, and lantern-making, may be more common in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, rather than in China.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Malaysia has a long history of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese tourists can experience traditional Chinese medicine treatments such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and cupping in Malaysia during Chinese New Year, which may not be as easily accessible in China.
- Chinese New Year River Cruise: This is a unique way to experience the Chinese New Year, it’s not a common practice in China, it’s only available in certain places in Malaysia, it’s a memorable experience for Chinese tourists to participate in a river cruise during Chinese New Year.
These experiences offer Chinese tourists a unique and authentic experience of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia and the opportunity to learn about and experience different aspects of the country’s rich culture and traditions that may not be found in China.
How can we use Chinese New Year festival to attract more international tourist to visit Malaysia?”
Chinese New Years can presents an excellent opportunity for the country’s tourism industry to attract more international tourists.
One of the main ways to use the Chinese New Year festival to attract more international tourists is by promoting the unique and authentic cultural experiences that the festival offers. The festival is celebrated with traditional customs such as lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks, which are not commonly seen in many Western countries. These traditional performances can be promoted as a unique and exciting experience for international tourists to witness.
Another way to use the Chinese New Year festival to attract more international tourists is by promoting the delicious traditional Chinese food that is typically served during the festival. Chinese cuisine is popular around the world, and many international tourists would be interested in trying traditional Chinese dishes during their visit to Malaysia.
The festival also provides an opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s natural beauty and biodiversity, particularly its ecotourism and nature activities. Many international tourists are interested in eco-tourism, and promoting the natural beauty of Malaysia during the Chinese New Year festival can attract them to visit the country.
In addition, the Chinese New Year festival can be promoted as a time of great joy and celebration, which can make it an attractive time for international tourists to visit Malaysia. The festival is a time when families come together and celebrate, and it is a time of great joy and celebration. Promoting the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year festival can make it an attractive time for international tourists to visit Malaysia.
Lastly, the festival can be promoted as a time to experience a different perspective of Chinese culture and tradition. Many international tourists visit China to experience the Chinese New Year, but the celebrations in Malaysia can offer a different perspective on the Chinese New Year, which can make it an attractive destination for those tourists.
In conclusion, the Chinese New Year festival in Malaysia presents an excellent opportunity for the country’s tourism industry to attract more international tourists. By promoting the unique and authentic cultural experiences, delicious traditional Chinese
PS: Malaysia is the Land of Festival.. so i hope all our Tourism Players use this advantage to attract International Tourist to visit Malaysia…
Next will be RAMADHAN Month and HARI RAYA in March and April AND How can we attract tourist during these festivals?