Kuala Lumpur, NU Online
Malaysia's Tourism Ministry is targeting to achieve 500,000 Middle East tourists at a fashion festival by 2020.

"Besides shopping, we also want to focus on introducing uniquely Malaysian fashion events," the Star quoted Malaysian Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen, as saying at the Islamic Fashion Festival 2011 (IFF) high-tea and fashion showcase.

She said the number of Middle East visitors at the festival had increased from about 20,000 in the 1990s to 320,000 in 2010, the Star reports.

"They come here to enjoy our natural environment, shopping and also fashion, which is why we want to hold more Islamic fashion events," she further said.

"Since Islamic fashion events are quite new here, we have no statistics, but we are collecting data," she added.

The festival showcased various designers featuring the theme 'Oriental Charm'. (dar)