New Southbound Policy Portal

A promotional film showcasing Taiwan’s major tourist attractions and Muslim-friendly travel environment is scheduled to premiere in Brunei and Malaysia in August as part of government efforts to strengthen tourism exchanges with the New Southbound Policy countries.
 
The film is produced by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and stars Malaysian actress and TV host Mira Filzah. Titled “Salam Taiwan,” it charts her trip to the country July 4-9 alongside compatriots Aisha Liyana, Sharifah Rose and Yasmin Redzuan, social media personalities focusing on cosmetics and fashion.
 
The group explored Muslim-friendly facilities such as prayer rooms and halal dining establishments as well as popular tourist sites including Shilin night market, the Taipei 101 skyscraper, Ximending shopping area and Yangmingshan National Park. Also on the itinerary were Leofoo Village Theme Park in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County and Qingjing Farm in central Taiwan’s Nantou County.
 
According to the Tourism Bureau, the film will be shown on cinema screens, digital billboards, online streaming sites and TV commercials in Brunei and Malaysia. It is expected to assist Taiwan in tapping these potential-laden tourism markets, as well as spotlight government efforts to cultivate a welcoming and convenient travel environment for people from diverse cultures, the bureau said.
 
Taiwan has achieved notable progress in this regard, as evidenced by its ranking as the fifth most Muslim-friendly destination among non-Muslim countries in the latest Global Muslim Travel Index released April 11 by MasterCard Inc. and CrescentRating. This marks the country’s best-ever result in the survey.
 
Going forward, the bureau will continue working with Filzah, who boasts over 3 million Instagram followers, in fostering awareness of Taiwan’s tourism sector in the Southeast Asian countries. Upcoming collaborations will see the actress feature in the nation’s promotional activities at Matta Fair, one of the largest travel trade shows in Malaysia, running Sept. 7-9.
 
The New Southbound Policy, a key plank in the government’s national development strategy, aims to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (CPY-E)
 
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