Heritage tourism in Malaysia is a delicate balancing act

Tourists enjoying a trishaw ride at Chulia Street in Penang. — Photos: The Star

Jalan Tengkera in Melaka has all the markings of a great heritage tourism product – a war-torn past, centuries-old Dutch buildings, mystical tombs and households with heirloom artefacts. A team of researchers from Melaka In Fact recently did a cultural mapping of the area.

When asked if the point of the exercise is to unlock tourism potential, the members – comprising Razak Bahrom, Bert Tan, Hamid Hasan and Wenila Nadarajan – immediately shut down the idea.