MELAKA: Melaka will start offering free entry to selected tourist attractions in conjunction with 11 specific celebrations involving civil servants and uniformed bodies serving in the state.
Melaka Tourism Promotion Division general manager Nasrul Ahmad said the exclusive initiative is a mark of appreciation for the service and commitment of public service members, involving tourism products under state agencies.
"The state government has agreed to introduce several new incentives under the Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) Tourism Scheme as a token of appreciation for civil servants and members of uniformed bodies who are the backbone of the state administration.
"This move is also aimed at expanding public participation in the state's tourism industry development in 2026," he said here on Thursday (Feb 26).
Nasrul added that each civil servant is eligible to choose one tourism location to receive a free entrance ticket, while their spouses and children will be given a 50% discount.
He said that to enjoy the facility, civil servants only need to present employment verification documents at the counter of their chosen tourism location.
"This free ticket can be used within a month from the date of each designated celebration. For example, for the recent Customs Day, those eligible can redeem the ticket within 30 days," he said.
Nasrul said the initiative is expected to benefit approximately 20,000 civil servants and their families, with a financial implication of RM1.7mil.
He said the 11 celebrations involved in the initiative are Customs Day (Jan 26), Malaysia Civil Defence Force Day (March 24), Police Day (March 25), Road Transport Department Day (April 1), and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Enforcement Day (April 17).
These are followed by Firefighters Day (May 4), Nurses Day (May 12), Teachers Day (May 16), Immigration Day (July 21), Malaysian Armed Forces Day (Sept 20), and Doctors Day (Oct 10).
Nasrul said the initiative is seen not only as improving the well-being of civil servants but also as boosting Melaka's domestic tourism sector, in line with the state's industrial development plans for the year. - Bernama
