Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 6 | ITB ASIA OFFICIAL DAILIES destination ///Malaysia Kuala Lumpur may soon be in the league of New York and London with its own version of Central Park and Hyde Park respectively when Taman Tugu (Tugu Park) is completed in mid-2018. The Taman Tugu project aims to create a rainforest park by conserving an existing 26.7-hectare secondary forest located behind the Tugu Negara (National Monument) and the Istana Selangor (Selangor Palace). Spearheading the project is Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of the government of Malaysia, in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and supported by various stakeholders, including the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia and the Malaysian Nature Society. Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Malaysia goes full throttle to meet tourism targets Seri Najib Tun Razak hopes Taman Tugu will be "synonymous with Kuala Lumpur bearing the status of a global city", like Central Park is synonymous with New York and Hyde Park with London. The project, touted as a 'public- private-civil society partnership', is estimated to cost RM650 million (US$159 million). Khazanah Nasional will foot RM500 million of the bill on a not-for-profit and corporate social responsibility basis, said its managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar. Azman added the project would see the regeneration of about 1,000 trees in the existing rainforest area surrounding Tugu Negara, as well as the planting of 5,000 more trees. The park will also feature facilities in several zones revolving around the environment, recreation and learning, including a rainforest information centre, camping site, canopy walks, zip lines, a water park, walkways and bicycle lanes, sightseeing platforms and F&B outlets. The project, which will be fully completed by 2020, will also provide safer and better connectivity for pedestrians as walkways will link the park to the KL Sentral transport hub. The government has also approved the plan to place Taman Tugu under a public trust in perpetuity to preserve it as a green lung so future generations of Malaysians will be able to enjoy it. That's a little way in the future. Meanwhile, Malaysia's tourism and culture ministry is confident of achieving its target of 30.5 million visitors this year. The country is targeting 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion (US$43 billion) in tourism receipts by 2020. Langkawi Donyanedomam. By Corinne Wan 30.5 million visitors this year; 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020 PHOT0 CREDIT: ISTOCK Katsuri Walk, Central Market Kuala Lumpur. PHOT0 CREDIT: SUPANNEE HICKMAN/ISTOCK LIVING HISTORY M y favourite shopping spot in Kuala Lumpur is the famed Central Market, the place I go to for local products or just to enjoy the ambience. I can find just about anything here - from handicraft to home decorations and electronics, or just have my portrait drawn insitu. This is also a place I like to show off to overseas friends. It is a heritage site with its history dating back to 1888 when it began as a wet market. The current beautiful art deco style building, completed in 1937, now houses numerous stalls arranged in a concept representing the traditional market that has existed in Kuala Lumpur since the 1800s. The names of the various sections - Lorong Melayu, Straits Chinese, and Lorong India – reflect Malaysia's rich cultural heritage. For art lovers, The Annexe at the back of the main building is the place to be, as it houses art galleries, theatre and music performance spaces, and arts and craft shops. Running alongside the building is the walking street, known as Kasturi Walk, filled with kiosks selling everything from souvenirs to food. The second floor of the building is where I usually go to satisfy my hunger pangs, as it has a food court offering a wide range of local food. Central Market's convenient location is also another reason for its popularity. It is just a short walk from Chinatown (Petaling Street) and public transportation connects it to other tourist attractions and hotels. The Central Market is open daily from 10a.m. to 9.30p.m. BY CORINNE WAN Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

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