Every year we’d see new shopping malls popping up like nobody’s business. Guess what, the trend is only going to continue moving forward.
According to NST’s report, Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) president Datuk Seri Garry Chua announced that Malaysia is expected to have close to 700 shopping malls by the end of 2019 with total net lettable area of 170 million sq ft.
“Currently we have about 560 shopping malls operating nationwide,” said Chua, adding that, “The occupancy for majority of the malls in Klang Valley is between 85% – 87%“. The MRCA president thinks that a steady flow of tourism is the key to fill the malls, both new and existing.
“The government has to do a lot more in getting tourists from around the world to come here, especially from China. Chinese tourist spends about USD260 billion (approx. RM1 trillion) globally. They are the biggest spenders,” he was quoted as saying.
Upcoming new malls will need to be more “interactive”. One method is to have “artificial intelligence where you have robots moving around”. “There should be new dynamics in shopping. Mall owners must keep abreast with the latest trends. Pricing and design must be right, especially for fashion brands,” Chua added, noting that location and connectivity are crucial in drawing in crowds.
For those who are interested, here are some new malls and a few upcoming ones we’re looking forward to explore:
- KL Eco City Retail Podium
- Evo Mall
- Amerin Mall
- Four Seasons Place Retail Podium
- Selayang Star City
- EkoCheras
- GM Robertson
- Horizon Village Outlets
- Tropicana Gardens Mall
- Pavilion Damansara Heights
- Pavilion Bukit Jalil
Source: NST.
