MALAYSIA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2013

Malaysia plays host to a variety of major festivals and events throughout 2013, why not plan a visit to Malaysia around the time of one of these celebrations and exhilarating events to experience the true Malaysia? For further details of the events listed below please visit: www.tourism.gov.my.

FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year
10 February 2013
15-day long festival celebrated with fabulous food, colourful lion dances and ethnic traditions.

Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival, Johor
20 to 24 February 2013
The sky will be filled up with colourful and innovative kite designs from international participants.

National Craft Day
20 February – 04 March 2013
See the arts and crafts at Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex, with activities ranging from fashion shows to cooking demonstrations. www.kraftangan.gov.my

BMW Malaysian Open
25 February to 3 March Also
Watch some of the world’s leading women tennis players at the Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur.

MARCH
Le Tour De Langkawi Malaysia
21 February – 02 March 2013
Asia’s premier cycling event will go through the seven states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and two Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. www.ltdl.com.my

Malaysia Grand Prix Sale 2013
8 March to 14 April 2013
This nationwide carnival sale throughout Malaysia is held in conjunction with the Petronas Malaysian F1 GP.

2013 F1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix, Kuala Lumpur at the Sepang International Circuit
22 - 24 March 2013
The race is now in its 15th Anniversary and promises to be one of the biggest sporting events in South East Asia in 2013. www.malaysiangp.com.my

International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, Langkawi
26 to 30 March 2013

APRIL
Water Festival
Throughout April 2013
Celebrated in Langkawi, Labuan and Port Dickson

Malaysia International Shoe Festival
05 - 07 April 2013
An annual event held at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur. www.motour.gov.my

MAY
World Harvest Festival in Sarawak
3 to 5 May 2013
A place for locals and tourists to learn about the ethnic groups’ culture and arts

Colours of 1Malaysia
25 May 2013
Colours of Malaysia Festival will give you an opportunity to learn about the Malaysian people and their diverse culture. Various delicacies of the different ethnic groups of Malaysia will be featured. www.motour.gov.uk

Tadau Kaamatan
30 - 31 May 2013
Tadau Kaamatan is a harvest festival celebrated in Sabah and Labuan.

JUNE
Gawai Dayak Festival
1 - 2 June 2013
Gawai Dayak is a harvest festival celebrated by the state's indigenous people, particularly the Ibans and Bidayuhs, in their traditional costumes. Ceremonial offerings of various local traditional delicacies and 'tuak' (home-made rice wine) are made to the gods of rice and prosperity

Sabah Dragon Boat race
14 – 15 June 2013
Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Malaysia International Tourism Night Floral Parade in Putrajaya
22 to 30 June
witness the dazzling spectacle of lit-up boats cruising along the lake

SuperGT Championship, Sepang
June 2013
Started in 1994, the Japan GT Championship Series (JGTC) is the most popular category in Japan’s motorsports world. One of its races is held in Malaysia in Sepang, Selangor.

Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak Cultural Village, Borneo
28-30 June 2013
Musicians from around the world will gather to celebrate a fusion of nature, culture and ethnic music. www.sarawaktourism.com

Fraser's Hill International Bird Race
29 - 30 June 2013
This annual event held at Frasers Hill attracts bird watchers from around the globe. Teams are divided into groups to identify the birds, many of them migratory birds from Siberia and Japan.  www.pkbf.org.my

JULY
Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival
Held throughout the country, many shopping malls offer great discounts.

UNESCO World Heritage City Celebration
7 July 2013
George Town was accorded the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List of Cities and Sights for its 'outstanding universal value' on 7 July, 2008. Celebrated by a month of cultural and music shows, traditional crafts demonstrations and exhibitions.

Malaysia Contemporary Arts Tourism Festival
2 July - 30 Sept 2013
This Arts Tourism Festival organised by the Ministry of Tourism will be held throughout the country. A chance to meet some of Malaysia’s talented artists and purchase their artworks.

AUGUST
Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
08 August 2013
Decked in their traditional finery, friends and family from near and far come together to celebrate this joyous Muslim occasion.

National Day
31 August 2013
Celebrated with colourful parades, stage shows and competitions at major towns throughout the country.

SEPTEMBER
Malaysia Day
16 September 2013
Annual commemoration of the establishment of the Malaysian federation in 1963.

Lantern Festival
19 Sept 2013
Held in Central Market, Kuala Lumpur, the Lantern Festival is celebrated during the full moon of the Chinese Calendar that features many intricately designed lanterns with multiple motifs.

Malaysia Tennis Open ATP World Tour 250
21-29 September 2013
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, this is one of the major tennis events in Malaysia.

OCTOBER
Fabulous Food Malaysia- Malaysia Annual International Gourmet Festival
1-31 October 2013

Hari Raya Aidiladha
15 October 2013
Also known as Hari Raya Haji, this festival marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mekah which is performed by millions of Muslims annually. It is also known as Hari Raya Qurban.

27th Mt.Kinabalu International Climbathon
20 October 2013

NOVEMBER
Deepavali 'Festival of Lights'
03 November 2013
Deepavali or the 'Festival of Lights' is celebrated by Hindus with prayers, family gatherings and festivities. Open houses are held where family and friends visit each other and enjoy delicious traditional goodies (except Labuan and Sarawak).
                                                      
Monsoon Cup
November 2013
International yacht racing teams battle the South China Sea for a chance to lift the Monsoon Cup.

Malaysia Year End Sale
8 November - 5 January 2014.

DECEMBER
Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dance Tourism Carnival
Learn the various Malaysian cultural dances

Christmas and New Year
25 and 31 December 2013

For more information, please contact:
Representation Plus
Flo Powell / Nick Smith
Email: flo@representationplus.co.uk / nicksmith@representationplus.co.uk
Tel: 020 8877 4509/04
Mob: 077 6624 2138
Visit: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
Support for press trips is available for selected publications, please e-mail flo@representationplus.co.uk
   
Notes to editors:
•  Visit: www.tourism.gov.my
•  Malaysia has a tropical climate and is a very welcoming multi-cultural society home to some of the best spa resorts in the world.
•  Malaysian cuisine is as diverse as the nation itself, fusing the culinary traditions and flavours of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Arabian and European cooking.

Visit the Tourism Malaysia Stand at Destinations Show, London to WIN a trip to Malaysia!

Visit the Tourism Malaysia stand AP7 at the Destinations Show, London's Earls Court from Thursday 31 January - Sunday 03 February 2013 to be in with a chance of winning our GRAND PRIZE of 2 return tickets to Malaysia with Royal Brunei Airlines and Accommodation at Sutera Harbour Resort.

You can also meet our experts from Langkawi and Sabah on our stand and a Batik Demonstrator who will show you how 'Batik' is done!

We look forward to seeing you there. For more information please visit http://www.destinationsshow.com/london/.

EXCITING FESTIVALS IN 2013 SET THE MOOD FOR THE COLOURFUL“VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2014”

Malaysia’s tourism calendar for 2013 is packed with another year of exciting events and colourful celebrations as a run up to the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) planned in 2014. Each month, Malaysia promises visitors something special and unique to make their trip truly memorable and enjoyable.

Kick off the year in January by joining in the grand celebration of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 promotion campaign from 18 to 20 January at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur for a huge tourism carnival!

January is also a great month to witness the Thaipusam Festival when a dazzling chariot procession pulls into the Batu Caves temple on 27 January after making a 15 kilometre, 12-hour journey from the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Elsewhere, Langkawi waters will host the Royal Langkawi International Regatta from 7 to 12 January, an exciting sailing and racing event you won’t want to miss. 

Visit during the Chinese New Year celebration on 10 February to enjoy the 15-day long festival celebrated with joyous reunion, fabulous food, colourful lion dances and ethnic tradition. 

Another tourism highlight is the Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival from 20 to 24 February in Johor which promises to fill up the sky with colourful and innovative kite designs from international participants. Also, watch some of the world’s leading women tennis players at the BMW Malaysian Open from 25 February to 3 March at the Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur.

In March, fans of Formula One must make a date with Malaysia when the race zooms into the Sepang International Circuit from 22 to 24 March and take advantage of the retail discounts during the Malaysia GP Sale from 8 March to 14 April.  Or visit Langkawi for one of the largest International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition from 26 to 30 March.

April is the month for a splashing time at the Water Festival, which will be celebrated in Langkawi, Labuan and Port Dickson – the major seaside towns in Malaysia. The Malaysia International Shoe Festival, meanwhile, is held from 5 to 7 April.

Those coming in May can witness the Colours of 1Malaysia celebrations on 25 May as well as taking part in other cultural events such as Sabah Fest (4 to 5 May), Tadau Kaamatan (30 to 31 May) and the World Harvest Festival in Sarawak (3 to 5 May).

In June, enliven your nights at the Malaysia International Tourism Night Floral Parade in Putrajaya from 22 to 30 June and witness the dazzling spectacle of lit-up boats cruising along the lake. While those who love music must not miss the renowned Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak from 28 to 30 June.

Grab your shopping bags in July as it’s the month of the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (14 June to 1 Sep). Also starting in July all the way to September is the Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival – a chance to meet some of Malaysia’s talented artists and purchase their artworks. July is also the Ramadan month observed by Muslims by way of fasting from dawn to dusk – visit the Bazar Ramadan stalls and be amazed by the array of food prepared for the breaking of the fast each evening.

In August, take part in the cultural festivities of the Hari Raya celebrations, where open houses and feasting on local delights are the norm. Then, celebrate in August and September with the Malaysia National Day on 31 August and a festive Malaysia Day celebration on 16 September. Admire the procession of beautiful lanterns during the 1Malaysia Lantern Tourism Festival in KL on 19 September.

October kicks off the three-month Fabulous Food 1Malaysia dining feast – enjoy fine dining in October, ASEAN food in November and delicious street food in December, nationwide.

November also sees international yacht racing teams battle the South China Sea for a chance to lift the Monsoon Cup. November is also the start of the Malaysia Year End Sale, from 8 November to 5 January 2014. Don’t forget to be part of the Deepavali celebration this month and experience a true festival of lights!

Culminate the year in December with the Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Dance Tourism Carnival and learn the various Malaysian cultural dances.  Or continue with your Malaysia Year End Sale shopping spree well into 5 January, while enjoying local street food delights served up during the last month of the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia. You can also enjoy the experience of a tropical Christmas during the whole of December as shopping malls and hotels light up.