Using Contemporary Art to boost Tourism Industry

The government is looking to boost the tourism industry through contemporary art. Judging by the recent initiatives and programmes that were carried out by the government, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the works of the local artists here could help to generate foreign art enthusiasts to the country.

He commended Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, the Minister of Tourism for her efforts in promoting local artists and used programmes to promote their work. He said this during the launch of the Ministry of Tourism’s art gallery which was to attract more art lovers to the country and to better appreciate the local art scene.

Muhyiddin also said that the gallery would help to push the bar higher for the artists of Malaysia, both established and emerging ones to produce better art work. The gallery features the works of some very renowned Malaysian contemporary artists as well as new ones like Suhaimi Fadzir and Ahmad Shukri.

The Ministry of Tourism has been playing an important role in the promotion of Malaysian art through events like the 1MCAT (1 Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism) which has been enjoying much success each year since it was first held in 2010.