By Aurelio Locsin
Factors That Promote Tourism in Malaysia
Its central Asian location has put Malaysia at the crossroads of many cultures. Indian and Chinese merchants have traded with the Malays for more than 2,000 years. Dutch, Portuguese and British colonials added their influence from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. Finally, travelers from
Europe,
Asia and the Americas bring their cash and curiosity to sample the native sites.
English
English-style museum in Penang
Because it was a British colony, Malaysia uses English as a second language behind the national language of Bahasa Malaysia. Signs, brochures and many documents exist primarily in English or are translated into it. Much of the population speaks it at some level ,and many educated classes send their children to England, Australia or the United States to study. Thus, language is not a barrier to tourists from the United States, the United Kingdom or Australia.
Culture
Malaysians
The predominant Malay population is Muslim and speaks Malaysian as a native language. The Chinese profess Buddhism and speak Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien. The Indians practice Hinduism and speak Hindi. This exotic mix guarantees a minimum of three types of cultures, languages and food to experience. Western influence is also strong, in case you need a fix from McDonald's or Starbucks.
Money
Ringgit
The local ringgit currency (RM) hovers between RM3.50 to RM4 to the U.S. dollar. So, the cost of living is cheap by American standards. Consider high-end buffets for $12, kiosk food for $2 and air-conditioned, Western-style hotels for less than $50 a night. Good-quality T-shirts can be had for $6 while hand-painted batik scarves start at $9. Cash machines and credit cards are widely used except in small villages.
Transportation
Malaysian train
Six international airports connect the country to the rest of the world with discount airlines such as Air Asia offering cheap flights. Five major seaports bring passenger ferries from coastal cities and surrounding islands. A major railway runs through the peninsula going as far south as Singapore and as far north as Bangkok. Buses cheaply traverse the major highway, linking north and south.
Nature
Mount Kinabalu at sunrise
Though millions call the capital city of Kuala Lumpur home, much of the country still boasts pristine wilderness. You'll find coral reefs and neon fish at Pulau Rawa, orangutans and gibbons at the tropical rain forest of Batang Ai, and caves and rock formations at Bako National Park. Scuba diving, hiking, camping, bird-watching and swimming are just some of the things you can do at these ecotourism locations.
About the Author:
Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.
