KUALA LUMPUR: The surge in utility bills by over 35% at hotels across Melaka during the first three months of this year serves as one of the indicators of an increase in tourist arrivals to the state in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024 (VMY2024).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said that during that same period, Melaka also recorded a higher number of vehicles entering through the state’s primary entry points.
“The rise in tourist arrivals can certainly be felt by traders in tourist spots, and in terms of accommodation, we are looking for various indicators showing an increase in tourist arrivals.
“To get the exact number of tourists, we have to wait six months, and in terms of traffic, there’s a noticeable surge in vehicles entering Melaka,” he said after recording Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme yesterday.
Ab Rauf said the government’s move to grant a 30-day visa-free entry for citizens of China and India from Dec 1 last year also contributed to the rise in tourist arrivals to the state.
He also said that China, for instance, demonstrated significant support for the success of Melaka’s tourism industry, as seen by the involvement of two cultural teams from Guangxi province in a special performance during the VMY2024 launch last year.
“We are establishing a relationship with China through investment and tourism as well as art and culture, through which we can strengthen our bilateral relations,” he said.
The presence of the cultural team symbolises the bilateral cooperation between Melaka and China, particularly as Malaysia and China commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
The Melaka government is hosting VMY2024 from Jan 1 to Dec 31, with the theme “Mana Lagi? Melaka Ler!” (Where Else But Melaka?) to establish Melaka as the primary and preferred tourist destination this year.
