Larger and more dazzling display at Colours of 1Malaysia this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Visitors to the Colours of 1Malaysia festival this year can expect a larger and even more dazzling display than previous shows.

Seven floats and 7,000 dancers will parade past Dataran Merdeka, not unlike the carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. She added that the annual tourism festival, which would be held on May 19, is expected to draw 100,000 visitors.

“This is the 14th year we are celebrating this festival and it is the biggest carnival in the Malaysian tourism calendar to showcase a variety of tourism products, from eco-tourism, homestay, shopping, food to contemporary art and sports,” she said at a press conference to announce the event. Dr Ng added that there would be many other side shows including band performances and a fireworks display.

“We will be inviting 280 members of the media from 23 countries including Sri Lanka, the Middle East, Turkey and Russia. We are inviting them because we wish to expand into like Russia and Sri Lanka. “In our experience, they are quite impressed with Malaysia, and they are an important tool to promote the brand of Malaysia Truly Asia,” she said, adding that the show would also be televised in other countries. She also said the ministry would bring writers and bloggers from several overseas countries on a familiarisation trip.

-thestar online.