ARAB SEASON

Between June and August each year, shops and restaurants in Bukit Bintang enjoy brisk business from the influx of Middle-Eastern tourists

KUALA LUMPUR: Restaurants and traders in the bustling Bukit Bintang area are enjoying brisk business thanks to an influx of Arab tourists. Restaurant operators and traders said there had been an increase of Arab tourists in the area compared with last year. They said the number of Arab tourists visiting the Golden Triangle had doubled since the start of the Arab season, which begun in June and ends this month. 

Streets recently visited Jalan Bukit Bintang and found many Arab tourists visiting various establishments. Some can be seen taking a break from their shopping to smoke shisha at a row of Arab restaurants next to Ain Arabia, while others were seen haggling for trinkets and merchandise at the nearby shops. Arina Najal,19 who manages a souvenir shop next to Ain Arabia said that business had been good since the shop started operations four months ago.

"We have many tourists visiting our shops, and they come from all corners of the globe. But it is during the Arab season that we get many Middle-Eastern tourists. They come here for the souvenirs, such as T-shirts, caps and mugs. "Some of the ladies like the collection of bags. Business has been good and we hope more tourists will patronise our place," she said. 

Sahara Tent Restaurant managing director Ala Hussein Salih, who opened the first Arab restaurant in Bukit Bintang, said that more needs to be done for the Arab tourists. "One of the problems faced by Arab tourists here is lack of security. There must be more tourist police in the Bukit Bintang area to ensure that all tourists are safe," he said. Ala Hussein said he had received complaints from Arab tourists of taxi drivers who were not using their meters and charging high rates. "The minute the taxi driver sees an Arab tourist, the fare is doubled. The authorities should look into this problem," he said. 

"There has been a significant increase in the number of tourists to Malaysia in the last five years. They seem to enjoy coming to Malaysia. We hope that the Tourism ministry will have more programmes for the Arab tourists," Ala Hussein said. Tour guide P. Vinesan, 36, said Arab season is a busy season for most tour operators. "Arab tourists are now well versed with all the tourists destinations in the country. 

They used to come here and stay in the city, but now they are venturing out to other destinations such as Genting Highlands, Malacca, Langkawi, Tioman, Penang and Pulau Redang," he said. Vinesan said the Arab tourists enjoy splurging on food and shopping. "It is good to have Arab restaurants in Bukit Bintang, because they prefer Arab cuisine more than our local fare. 

The Tourism Ministry should look at promoting more activities for the Arabs in the city," he said. A tourist from Jordan, who only wanted to be known as Al-Fahid, said that this was his third visit. "The people here are friendly and some of the local fare is good. But we Arabs love our own selection of food," he said. Al-Fahid, who was shopping with his wife, said he loved visiting the islands in the north. "Langkawi is very beautiful. Some of the beaches are clean and the shopping is great. Most of the things there are duty free so we can shop more," he said.

-NST Online.