i-City works with Tourism Ministry to bring more attractions

SHAH ALAM: The country’s tech-based property development, i-City, will work with the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) to bring more events to i-City in order to make it a more attractive tourist destination.

i-City chief executive officer (CEO) Eu Hong Chew said that i-City has been busy with events since the school holidays and World Cup tournament began. He added that the company has been investing substantially in its effort to keep the township attractive to its visitors.

i-City is currently hosting almost 50,000 people a week, and with the added attractions brought in by the Tourism Ministry, the numbers are expected to grow fast.

“Daily live telecasts of matches are attracting a large crowd to our open grounds as we have a large LED screen to view the match. There is a flea market in place for the duration of the World Cup and also some live band performances over the weekend,” he said during the launch of i-City’s new rhythmic lights, Hibiscus in the Sky on Wednesday, June 23.

The event was officiated by tourism minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was accompanied by deputy executive chairman of I-Berhad Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, and I-City’s Eu.

“The spacious outdoor atmosphere, its wonderfully developed lightscapes, 24-hour operations and entrepreneurial opportunities for retailers looking for high-traffic areas are unique selling points that will enhance our tourism products substantially,” Ng said during the ceremony.

Among the events to take place in i-City include the MoT’s Cuti-Cuti 1 Malaysia dance performances every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout June.

The ministry has also started a national initiative to promote and encourage established and amateur artists in Malaysia to showcase their work to local and international visitors.

“The i-City will be included in the calendar of 1 Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival, which is poised to take place in August to September, where an exhibition of fine artworks would be on display during these months,” she said.

Another event set to take place is the Mediterranean-themed Summer Ramadhan Festival, which will be held throughout the fasting month of Ramadhan. For the Hari Raya festivities after that, a ‘Fabulous Food Festival’ is being planned.

Recently, i-City launched its “i-City: It’s Always On- Photography and Videography Challenge” together with Hong Kong star Simon Yam to encourage visitors here to capture the many shades of i-City. 

One of the competing categories is i-City’s latest attraction ‘Hibiscus in the Sky’, which is a laser-light and music show based on Malaysia's national flower that will be on every night at 8.30pm and 10.30pm.

The light show is part of the second phase of lightscapes developed by the management of i-City.

Other new highlights under the new phase are the Safari Park, which feature life-size horses, dinosaurs, and giraffes and the Cactus Park. 

The City of Digital Lights, which uses LED lights, was first introduced in December last year.