Razak (fifth from left) holding a Chinese calligraphy as a symbol of the dragon boat race to be held in Melaka.
MELAKA: The oldest dragon boat race in the state, which was first organised in 1983, will be turned into a significant event for Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM 2024) in a bid to lure international participants and boost the tourist arrival figures, says Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.
The state tourism, heritage, art and culture committee chairman said the race was an event that would take advantage of the state’s position as top tourist destination through sports.
“This year, there will also be a Dragon Boat procession held on June 18 at Bandar Hilir while the race will be organised on July 2 at the Dataran Pengkalan Rama stretch of Sungai Melaka,” he said on Thursday (May 18).
Abdul Razak said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Jusoh will flag off the participants of the race that is expected to attract 5,000 people from all over the country.
He said the event was jointly organised by Dragon Boat Association of Melaka, Chief Minister’s Office and Melaka River and Coastal Development Corporation (PPSPM), among others.
Abdul Razak said he would work with stakeholders on how to improve and strengthen the event with an international touch.
“We will look at how to attract more foreign teams so that the race can be lifted into an activity to lure participants from all over the globe as part of an attraction during TMM 2024,” he said.
The race is held annually in-conjunction with the ‘Duanwu’ Festival which falls in June.
