Bigger Shoe Festival Next Year, Says Ng Yen Yen

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- A bigger and more international shoe festival would be held next year, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. She said this was due to the huge success of this year's three-day festival that made RM5 million in sales and drew over 45,000 visitors including from Singapore, Indonesia, China, the Middle East, South Africa, Australia and South Korea. "We plan to hold a five-day festival next year. One day will be allocated specially for international buyers from all over the world and another day for special, high-value shoes, before we open the remaining three days for the general consumers," she told a press conference at the Appreciation Night in conjunction with the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2010 here Sunday.

She said the ministry had also come up with a theme, "Sole of the Equator", because Malaysia was well known as having good expertise in the shoe industry in Asia." There were already a number international brands which showed interest in joining next year's festival. "Therefore, we are expecting double sales and we will be discussing increasing the allocation from RM4 million this year (to host the event) as we are also increasing the number of days."We not only want better returns from the next festival but also to encourage our youths to join the shoe industry" she said.