Published on The Brunei Times (http://www.bt.com.bn/en)
KL turning into Little Arabia
Little Arabia: (From top) With the sharp increase in Arab tourist arrivals, Tourism Malaysia has transformed one of KL's well-known landmark _ the Bukit Bintang shopping triangle _ into a Mini Arabia. Pictures: Liz Price
[For more photos, see my Multiply album Arab season in KL
Sunday, August 24, 2008
GO to Bukit Bintang in the heart of Kuala Lumpur (or KL for short as the locals fondly call this city) in July and August and you will think you have been transported to an Arabian country. The number of Arabs seems to exceed the Malaysians and other tourists. Yes, Arab season is here again.
Every June to September, KL is invaded by Arab tourists. Tourism Malaysia encourages them in the hope they will spend, spend, spend.
Since 9-11 Muslims from the Middle East have been heading to Malaysia in droves for their annual vacations. The numbers seem to be increasing each year and it has been ranked as the number one destination for Middle East tourists.
Malaysian tourism road shows have been held to tempt visitors from Dubai, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and also the Levant and North Africa. In 2008 Malaysia aims to attract 100,000 tourists from the UAE and Iran, and 400,000 from the Middle East, according to the Director General of Tourism Malaysia.
To cater to these visitors, KL is transformed into a little Arabia. Street signs are in Arabic, there are many restaurants serving Arabic foods, there are lots of Arabic perfume and oil shops appearing, and even a garden.
People often question the need for Tourism Malaysia to convert KL into a mini Arabia, as generally tourists go to foreign countries to explore the new culture. Whereas the Arabs in KL are faced with a barrage of things they would see in their home country.
Part of the draw for these visitors is Malaysia presents a more relaxed form of Islam compared to many Middle Eastern regimes. Since 9-11 many Muslims are afraid to go to America and Europe.
Also Malaysia is cheaper than Europe. Apart from the shopping bargains, Arabs are tempted to visit Malaysia for the beach resorts. Also Malaysia is a cheaper destination than Paris for Arab honeymooners. But possibly the biggest selling point is visa-free access. Malaysia throws open its doors to Muslim visitors, unlike the US and Europe which have tightened immigration rules.
At KL International Airport, arrival and departure announcements are made in Arabic. Arab tourists are provided with promotional booklets and maps, and there are signs in Arabic and Arabic-speaking staff to guide them.
Hoteliers who used to struggle to fill rooms during the summer months, are now busy hiring Arabic speakers. Some hotels even offer "Arabian Nights" where Arab food is served, Middle Eastern singers and musicians perform and there may even be a belly dancer.
Leaving the air-conditioned hotels, the Arabs don't seem bothered by the heat in KL, as it's still cooler than their home countries. Walking around the Bukit Bintang area you might forget that you are in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Road signs have Arabic names and shops have signboards with Arabic words on them, some are solely in Arabic. There are several Arabian perfume shops opening up, selling resins and oils, which seems a bit like taking coals to Newcastle. Some shops are even using the word bazaar, which is a Persian word for market.
More halal restaurants are opening offering Middle East food, and they seem to be a hit, although the Arabs also frequent the Western fast food places. Many restaurants have signs in Arabic and the more enterprising even have their menus printed in Arabic.
There are several pavement cafes, some offering Turkish ice cream, others serve black tea in tiny transparent glasses. Smoking a hookah water pipe or shisha is popular with these visitors, especially for some females as smoking is banned in public in Saudi Arabia.
Although many Saudi women still wear the full-length black veil with the eye slits, other more daring women change to a floral jilbab. Shops are now selling fashionable clothes which will appeal to Arab patrons.
Even hair dressers have caught on and can speak some Arabic. Tour agents have Arabic speaking staff so they can sell more tours, especially to water theme parks.
A few years ago a garden was set up on Jalan Berangan. An Arabic style arch leads to Ain Arabia, which is a garden with a fountain shaped like an Arabic teapot, and a gazebo.
However it was about the only place in the city where I didn't see any Arabs! Entertainment is supplied in the form of Arabian music and cultural shows.
There are special Arab bands, all to maintain the homeland atmosphere. But how much of the real Malaysia do these Arab visitors see?
The writer lives in Malaysia and specialises in cave and karst research.
The Brunei Times
Every June to September, KL is invaded by Arab tourists. Tourism Malaysia encourages them in the hope they will spend, spend, spend.
Since 9-11 Muslims from the Middle East have been heading to Malaysia in droves for their annual vacations. The numbers seem to be increasing each year and it has been ranked as the number one destination for Middle East tourists.
Malaysian tourism road shows have been held to tempt visitors from Dubai, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and also the Levant and North Africa. In 2008 Malaysia aims to attract 100,000 tourists from the UAE and Iran, and 400,000 from the Middle East, according to the Director General of Tourism Malaysia.
To cater to these visitors, KL is transformed into a little Arabia. Street signs are in Arabic, there are many restaurants serving Arabic foods, there are lots of Arabic perfume and oil shops appearing, and even a garden.
People often question the need for Tourism Malaysia to convert KL into a mini Arabia, as generally tourists go to foreign countries to explore the new culture. Whereas the Arabs in KL are faced with a barrage of things they would see in their home country.
Part of the draw for these visitors is Malaysia presents a more relaxed form of Islam compared to many Middle Eastern regimes. Since 9-11 many Muslims are afraid to go to America and Europe.
Also Malaysia is cheaper than Europe. Apart from the shopping bargains, Arabs are tempted to visit Malaysia for the beach resorts. Also Malaysia is a cheaper destination than Paris for Arab honeymooners. But possibly the biggest selling point is visa-free access. Malaysia throws open its doors to Muslim visitors, unlike the US and Europe which have tightened immigration rules.
At KL International Airport, arrival and departure announcements are made in Arabic. Arab tourists are provided with promotional booklets and maps, and there are signs in Arabic and Arabic-speaking staff to guide them.
Hoteliers who used to struggle to fill rooms during the summer months, are now busy hiring Arabic speakers. Some hotels even offer "Arabian Nights" where Arab food is served, Middle Eastern singers and musicians perform and there may even be a belly dancer.
Leaving the air-conditioned hotels, the Arabs don't seem bothered by the heat in KL, as it's still cooler than their home countries. Walking around the Bukit Bintang area you might forget that you are in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Road signs have Arabic names and shops have signboards with Arabic words on them, some are solely in Arabic. There are several Arabian perfume shops opening up, selling resins and oils, which seems a bit like taking coals to Newcastle. Some shops are even using the word bazaar, which is a Persian word for market.
More halal restaurants are opening offering Middle East food, and they seem to be a hit, although the Arabs also frequent the Western fast food places. Many restaurants have signs in Arabic and the more enterprising even have their menus printed in Arabic.
There are several pavement cafes, some offering Turkish ice cream, others serve black tea in tiny transparent glasses. Smoking a hookah water pipe or shisha is popular with these visitors, especially for some females as smoking is banned in public in Saudi Arabia.
Although many Saudi women still wear the full-length black veil with the eye slits, other more daring women change to a floral jilbab. Shops are now selling fashionable clothes which will appeal to Arab patrons.
Even hair dressers have caught on and can speak some Arabic. Tour agents have Arabic speaking staff so they can sell more tours, especially to water theme parks.
A few years ago a garden was set up on Jalan Berangan. An Arabic style arch leads to Ain Arabia, which is a garden with a fountain shaped like an Arabic teapot, and a gazebo.
However it was about the only place in the city where I didn't see any Arabs! Entertainment is supplied in the form of Arabian music and cultural shows.
There are special Arab bands, all to maintain the homeland atmosphere. But how much of the real Malaysia do these Arab visitors see?
The writer lives in Malaysia and specialises in cave and karst research.
The Brunei Times
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