According to the Ministry of Transport’s Tourism Bureau, this year’s outbound travel numbers have hit a record high, and Malaysia is projected to receive over 250,000 visitors, becoming one of the top ten overseas destinations for Taiwanese travelers. Next year, Malaysia will take center stage on the global stage. The Malaysia Tourism Year 2014 will officially kick off in January, bringing together the world’s most exciting “green,” “cultural,” and “sports” tourism experiences. Malaysia will offer travelers a year-round series of themed festivals and events.
The World Rainforest Music Festival is one of the best international music events in the world. (Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia)
Sabah and Sarawak are located on Borneo in Malaysia, with over half of their land area covered by tropical rainforests, making them one of the world’s most precious ecological treasures and earning them the nickname “Amazon of the South Seas.” From the deep sea to the high mountains, they are home to precious natural ecosystems, offering a variety of unique ecological landscapes such as Southeast Asia’s highest peak, “Mount Kinabalu,” one of the world’s top diving paradises, “Sipadan Island,” and the world’s largest flower, the “Rafflesia.” Here you can also see Borneo’s famous orangutans and proboscis monkeys, as well as other rare flora and fauna. Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state and boasts uniquely stunning limestone caves, such as Malaysia’s first national park, “Bako National Park,” and “Mulu National Park,” which is home to the world’s largest cave, the “Deer Cave.” Next year in May and June, the “Borneo Jazz Festival” and the “Sarawak World Rainforest Music Festival,” which invite world-renowned bands and musicians, will be held. Most notably, the “World Rainforest Music Festival” has been ranked by the international music magazine Songlines as the world’s best international music event for four consecutive years. Every year, tens of thousands of music fans gather in the rainforest to experience the raw, wild music that liberates them from the constraints of the city, allowing them to feel the deepest emotions in nature.
Malacca and Penang are Malaysia’s most renowned UNESCO World Heritage cities. Malacca, a crucial stop along East-West trade routes, was colonized by European powers during their expansion—first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and later the British—leaving behind a wealth of European cultural heritage. Examples include the Malacca Cultural Museum (also known as the Sultan’s Palace), the Dutch Red House (Stadhuys), Christ Church built by the Dutch, the Portuguese-built A’Famosa (Porta De Santiago) and St. Paul’s Church, and the Queen Victoria’s Fountain erected by the British to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 60th year on the throne. Located in northern Malaysia, Penang, also known as the “Pulau Pinang” or “Penang Island,” was jointly inscribed as a World Heritage Site with Malacca in 2008. Over half of Penang’s residents are ethnic Chinese, so Chinese signs are common on the streets. The area’s appeal lies in its well-preserved ancient districts and century-old buildings, including British-colonial-style Penang City Hall, Peranakan shophouses with a Southeast Asian flair, as well as Islamic and Hindu temples. People of different ethnicities and religions coexist peacefully here, creating a unique Malaysian style. Every year on July 7th, the Malacca and Penang World Heritage Festivals are held, featuring a variety of cultural and artistic performances that let visitors celebrate the joy of being part of the world’s cultural heritage.
What Taiwanese visitors find most unforgettable about Malaysia is its rich and diverse cuisine. Influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures, Malaysia offers a uniquely multicultural food scene. Examples include Indian curries, Indian sweets, teh tarik (pulled tea), and roti canai; Malay dishes like nasi lemak, Malay kuih, and satay; Chinese-inspired dishes such as bak kut teh and Hainanese chicken rice; and the famous Peranakan dish, nyonya kuih. All are must-try Malaysian specialties. The annual “Malaysia International Gourmet Festival” in October allows visitors to enjoy exquisite multi-course meals crafted by dozens of top restaurants from across the country—or explore Kuala Lumpur’s Petaling Street and Penang’s New Lane Hawker Night Market. A trip to Malaysia is like embarking on a global culinary journey.
Malaysia’s warm, summer-like climate all year round, combined with its rich natural environment, creates ideal conditions for international sporting events. As a result, many world-class sports competitions are held here annually, attracting sports enthusiasts from around the globe to watch—or even participate and compete for glory. Events include the “Ipoh International Marathon” in June next year, the “Mount Kinabalu Climbathon” in Sabah in October, and the “Penang Bridge Marathon” in November, which draw tens of thousands of marathon runners from around the world. The “LPGA Malaysia Ladies Open Golf Championship” in October is also not to be missed. The “F1 World Championship” and “MotoGP World Motorcycle Championship,” which start in March and October respectively at the Sepang International Circuit, offer thrilling visual and auditory experiences, especially the sensation of high-speed air tearing past. Meanwhile, the “Pahang Royal Sailfish International Challenge” in August next year will take fishing enthusiasts to the pinnacle of the sport.
Every March, the world turns its eyes to the F1 World Championship at the Sepang International Circuit. (Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia)
The mascot for Malaysia Tourism Year 2014 will be the endangered proboscis monkey, a protected species in Malaysia. Known as Proboscis Monkey in English and Monyet Belanda in Malay, the proboscis monkey is native to Sabah, Malaysia. There are only about 3,000 left in the world. Its most distinctive features are its unusually large nose and potbelly. Adult male proboscis monkeys’ noses grow larger with age, reaching up to about 10 cm in length. These primates are social animals, typically living in groups led by a dominant male or formed of multiple families.