KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Museums have the pull to serve as important tourist products that can be developed further to help promote Malaysian culture, and boost the country’s tourism industry.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said this year the Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM) is aiming to attract one million visitors to visit its 22 museum in the country, with an estimated revenue of RM900,000.
She said even though museums are facing challenges and have recorded a decrease in total visitors and revenue of about 70 per cent in 2020 and 2021, she is confident that they will be able to meet the target this year.
“I am confident and believe that these exhibitions can serve a catalyst to increase the potential of museums, as one of the main contributors to the country’s economic recovery efforts.
“This initiative also will give more choices with varied tourism products in the country,” she said at the opening ceremony of the Textile Motif and Pattern Design Exhibition, at the National Textile Museum here today.
Nancy also said that this year, her ministry is giving priority to the implementation of the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 and the National Culture Policy (DAKEN), in efforts to help accelerate the national economic recovery.
In addition, the implementation of the two policies will also ensure that all parties in the tourism, art and culture chain can add value to existing skills and talents.
“As a result of these vibrant tourism and cultural activities, it will enable industry players to use their existing skills as a source of income, as well as generating additional income.
“They will also train young people, or those who have an interest in tourism. This is the cycle of impact that we want to see, so that the economic overflow can benefit all parties,” she said.
Regarding the exhibition today, she said it featured 91 collections of variations of the superior motif elements of Malay textile art by JMM, and also 65 collections of works by students of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Machang, Kelantan.
She also said that the motifs on display, from today to Dec 31 at the National Textile Museum, symbolised the uniqueness and beauty of Malay culture which play an important role in reflecting the identity of the nation.
“These motifs also play an important role in reflecting the identity of a nation, which can differentiate our country’s textile handicrafts from those of neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.
“Therefore, the organisation of such an exhibition is expected to open the minds of the community, especially the younger generation, to recognise and understand the diversity, symbolism, and philosophy of traditional motifs in the local textile art world that we have inherited,” she added.
