Well known for medical tourism, Malaysia has
not promoted health and wellness tourism as much. The sports ministry will
continue to grow the "Fit Malaysia" brand.
Well
known for medical tourism, Malaysia has not promoted health and wellness
tourism as much.
Malaysia's
wellness and fitness industry has the potential to become a big revenue earner
for the tourism sector, according to sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He argues
that Malaysia should try to capture some of the market by developing wellness
tourism alongside medical tourism. This could include the Malaysia Urban
Retreat Festival (Murfest), yoga and spiritual retreats, as well as fitness
weeks.
Jamaluddin
suggests, “There is much potential for wellness travel to be turned into a
revenue generating industry. Murfest 2015 attracted 5000 local and
international participants. Attaining health and well being through physical,
psychological or spiritual activities have become an international trend among
health-conscious people. We could have an annual international yoga festival to
attract visitors who are into fitness and spirituality. Malaysia already has
the tourism infrastructure“
The
sports ministry will continue to grow the "Fit Malaysia" brand,
launched in 2014, by combining sports activities with other elements that
enhance mind-body connection, similar to some of the programmes presented
during the three-day Murfest. "Fit Malaysia" is a brand to encourage
Malaysians to adopt healthy lifestyles and excel in sports.
Jamaluddin
created Fit-Malaysia and wants it to work with Murfest to extend the physical
focus to incorporate the mental aspect as well,
"We want to see fitness in a wider scope. It should not just be
about physical sports, running, cardio, boxing, self-defence or cycling, but
also about mind-body wellness. Fly yoga or aerial yoga, a new form of exercise
that makes use of hammocks, is being considered for this year's "Fit
Malaysia" event.”
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