Promoting caves temple as venue for meetings.

Date: 5 January 2013

Promoting caves temple as venue for meetings.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chin Swee Caves Temple which designates it as its fourth shell site. MyCEB has designated Putrajaya Maritime Centre, Central Market and Thean Hou Temple as shell sites.

MyCEB was set up by the Tourism Ministry to strengthen Malaysia's business tourism brand and position in the international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions market.

The MoU was signed by Chin Swee Caves Temple Building Society vice- chairman Tan Kong Han, who is also the president and chief operating officer of Genting Bhd, and MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif. It was witnessed by Genting Malaysia Bhd senior vice-president of public relations and communications Datuk Anthony Yeo.

Tan said: "We are honoured to have MyCEB as our partner to promote the Sky Terrace at Chin Swee Caves Temple as a destination for business and international events. We hope MyCEB will help to promote Sky Terrace to the international business community as an ideal venue for international events. We look forward to placing Chin Swee Caves Temple and Malaysia on the world map of international business events." The 3,250sq m Sky Terrace is an observation area which offers magnificent mountain views.

Zulkefli said: "MyCEB is continuously looking to develop competitive, creative and innovative offerings to further attract international business events to the country. A big selling point for Malaysia is our rich culture where one can experience the whole of Asia in one destination. "Hence, adding one-of-a-kind venues like the Chin Swee Caves Temple into our list of offerings will definitely make Malaysia more appealing as a business events venue."

Shell sites are unique and iconic sites that can be utilised as off-site business events for groups of up to 1,000. As an alternative to conventional meeting venues, shell sites present visitors with an experience of meetings while being enclosed within the cultural and natural elements of Malaysia.

The temple is located at 1,400m above sea level in Genting Highlands and is less than an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur. It is a perfect getaway for those who wish to escape from the city. It is situated on a rocky forested mountain overlooking lush green slopes of virgin forests. Blessed with cool crisp mountain air, the temple is a peaceful place for purifying the mind and soul.

 It is a tourist hub which features traditional Chinese culture and legend, including a nine-dragon wall. Each dragon, which is in a different colour, represents a different type of luck. There is a nine-storey pagoda decorated with 10,000 Buddha figurines and a 18m high stone carving of a Buddha resting on a lotus.

The temple has played host to numerous cultural activities and promotional events, drawing local and foreign tourists. The temple has a meditation hall, two meeting rooms, and a vegetarian restaurant. There are also 110 rooms where devotees can stay in comfort for retreats, prayers, reflection, meditation and self-discovery. For details about Chin Swee Caves Temple, visit www.csc.org.my.

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