Embassy of Malaysia Visited by Tomioka UNESCO Association

A group of 40 members of Tomioka , UNESCO Association including 23 students Junior and High School students visited the Embassy of Malaysia on 22 August 2008. Earlier in the year, a group of Tomioka citizens visited Malaysia for a study tour and was impressed with the beauty of the places they visited and the hospitality of Malaysians whom they met. The visit to the Embassy was intended to express their appreciation, to learn more about Malaysia and enable others to know about our country.

During the visit, the group was shown a DVD on ?Malaysia Truly Asia 2008? followed by a briefing on Malaysia?s history, geography, culture, places of interest, cuisine and local fruits as well as traveling to and around Malaysia. The many questions posed following the briefing were indicative of their interest in Malaysia. The group was then invited to sample Malaysian kuehs and fried noodle. In a show of appreciation, the students performed two choir songs.

The Embassy receives many similar visits throughout the year from groups and school children and feedbacks received from these visitors show a better awareness of Malaysia as a destination for holiday makers, study tours as well as for exchange programmes. In 2007, tourist arrivals in Malaysia from Japan totaled 367,567 an increase by 3.8 per cent compared to 354,213 in 2006.

Tomioka City is located in Gunma Prefecture and is about 3 hours bus ride from Tokyo.