Visit Malaysia 2020 and Beyond.....

While the nation is arguing over the “hideous” logo of the Visit Malaysia 2020, I think we should examine the issue in a much broader light, and differentiate what different types of visitors really look for when they visit Malaysia.

We are all familiar with various forms of tours and travels. In fact, we even differentiate
conventional tour packages designed for tourists, travelers and sojourners etc.

Tourists are generally interested in visiting touristic spots and possibly shopping, foods, very much like the experience of traveling in tour packages.

Travelers are more interested in the cultural aspects, covering religions, languages, cuisines, arts and handicrafts, politics and economy.

Sojourners, on the other hand, are much more progressive in their perspective. They often opt for slow travel, becoming “local residents” immersing themselves in the ways of living of the locals, very much into the deep cultural aspects. They partake in live, work, travel, learn, play and the values systems behind these activities, even doing voluntary work as a contribution back to the local society. This can be a life-changing experience.

Nomads (digital or otherwise) are yet another type of traveler who engage in long trips throughout the year, very often linked to earning an income while traveling. This is in sharp contrast to all previous types who are just “spenders or consumers” engaged in consumption and not so much concerned with production of incomes.

The ultimate travelers (if there is such thing) are, of course, perpetual travelers or super-nomads who are constantly on the move for both production of incomes (international businesses or professions), consumption and investment. They are the “world-citizens,” literally.

Our life on this earth is a journey too, trending or belonging to any one or more of the 5 types of traveling mode mentioned above. Each mode or type of travel or journey would have different emphasis in life, trending toward different kinds of success in life, knowingly or unknowingly.

The first category of success resides in the corporate / capital world where the acquisition and preservation of wealth (physical or financial assets), status or reputation is the ultimate objective. Success of this kind generally have much to do with the idolatrous body.

The second category of success is in the cognitive / intellectual world where the creation, propagation and sharing (or protection) of information and knowledge is of utmost importance, with bumper rewards possible to the inquisitive mind.

The third category of success is in the cosmic / spiritual world where the esoteric contents are intimately or deeply felt, leading to the acquisition of integrative insight or wisdom. The attainment of this condition leads us to have a holistic or integrative spirit.