MELAKA, Dec 28 (Bernama) — The luxury cruise ship tourism sector will be among the focus of the Melaka state government to attract more tourists, especially from abroad, ahead of Visit Melaka Year 2024.
State Tourism Promotion Division (BPP) general manager Sa’ari Basiron said that so far three cruise ship companies had agreed to work with BPP to make Melaka one of the stopover destinations when sailing.
“In 2019, we received about 100,000 foreign (cruise ship) tourists who stopped by Melaka to visit some tourist spots offered by appointed travel agents.
“Next year is our preparatory year to celebrate Visit Melaka Year 2024 and among our focus is to create international-class tourism packages to attract more foreign tourists,” he told reporters here today.
He said this after attending a ceremony to welcome Ocean Odyssey cruise ship passengers at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex of the Melaka-Dumai International Ferry Terminal in Kota Laksamana here.
More than 100 tourists from Europe disembarked from the cruise ship to visit some famous tourist destinations in the state, especially around Banda Hilir.
In the meantime, Sa’ari said in addition, BPP will create tourism packages based on history and heritage, particularly involving tourist destinations around Banda Hilir in an effort to attract cruise ship tourists to stop over and spend a night in the state.
“Currently, luxury cruise ship tourists usually only stop for a short time… usually only for half a day but in the future we hope they can spend a night in Melaka,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency