The Melaka government is targeting 18.7 million domestic and foreign tourists for Visit Melaka Year 2024 (VMY 2024), which was officially launched on Friday.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said state authorities were confident that the tourist arrivals would help Melaka achieve its target of a five per cent increase in its gross domestic product.
He said to realise the aim, the state laid out a slew of events and tourism offerings for next year, via a RM25 million allocation from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
"One of the events planned is a day for all overnight tourists in Melaka to experience the River Cruise free of charge, all day long.
"We will also hold a lucky draw for tourists, with four cars to be given away every three months, on top of other prizes.
"The Melaka government also plans to implement phase two of the River Cruise in Sungai Paya Lebar in Masjid Tanah, where tourists can watch some 1,400 crocodiles along the 15km stretch of the river," he said at the event launch in Kuala Lumpur.
resent were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, and state Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.
Also present were Media Prima Bhd group managing director Rafiq Razali and New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd group managing editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman.
Ab Rauf said other attractions planned for next year included a large-scale fishing competition at Sungai Melaka, a floating restaurant in Sungai Paya Lebar, a freshwater fish cooking competition, a German Week event and others.
He said the Melaka government had also appointed tourism ambassadors, known as VMY 2024 Volunteers, involving those aged between 18 and 25. More than 800 people having signed up so far.
Ab Rauf also announced that Feb 20 would be declared an annual public holiday for the state, which is the same date in 1956 when Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, in Banda Hilir, Melaka, announced the independence of the Federated Malay States.
"We will also seize the opportunity during VMY 2024 to promote strategic locations in Melaka for investors, as well as focus on health and education tourism."
Ab Rauf had also announced Media Prima Bhd as the official media for VMY 2024, adding that the group was chosen as it was "the best media from east to west".
-nst online.
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