Protest rallies affect Melaka’s tourism arrivals

Adly (sixth, from right) together with Briged Seni Melaka artistes welcoming tourists arriving from Pekan Baru, Indonesia for Visit Melaka Year 2019. — filepic

TOURISM arrivals to Melaka, especially from Singapore, saw a decline of about 28% during the 2018 year-end peak period, mainly due to speeches and rallies associated with racism, claimed a tourism-based non-governmental organisation.

Melaka Tourism Business Club (MTBC) president Chew Chert Fong said based on hotel occupancy rates and feedback from local tourism players, tourist arrivals peaked between Dec 22 and 28.