More tourists visit Melaka

MELAKA: Melaka registered 16.7 million tourists in 2017, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

Idris (centre) presenting a token of appreciation to Yip (right) at the dinner.With them is Ali.

Idris said the figure was the highest for the state, placing Melaka as the main tourist destination in the country, with the majority of tourists from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Melaka may be a small state but immense in stature, where centuries of civilisation has shaped the foundation.

“We can see the growth of the tourism sector and we are now targeting 17 million tourists for this year,” he said in his speech at a dinner in conjunction with the ninth Joint Seminar and 40th Public Services Games For Public Sector Leaders of Malaysia and Singapore 2018 here.

He said apart from growth in the tourism industry, the state government worked hard to promote Melaka as a hub for investment.

Idris said among the recognition Melaka received last year were coming in fifth on The World’s Trendiest Holiday Destinations list by The British Post, The Most Visited City In Malaysia After Kuala Lumpur (by Tourism and Culture Ministry) and one of the Top 10 Best Destinations to Visit in Asia by Lonely Planet.

Idris added that multinational companies had invested RM22bil in the manufacturing sector, the highest investment recorded in history in the state.