CONVERGENCE MAR-APR2017

What's
C onverging
Tourism Melaka collaborates
with Malaysia Airports to
increase tourist arrivals
Malaysia Airports' Managing Director, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali
(second from left) with his wife Datin Rogayah Ibrahim, Melaka Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (centre) and dignitaries at the Tourism
Melaka booth at klia2
Welcome reception at KLIA
Cultural performances were held at KLIA and klia2
Malaysia Airports is collaborating with Tourism Melaka to
promote the state's rich heritage and culture to travellers
around the world.
The collaboration saw daily cultural performances and the
state's iconic features such as 'beca' (trishaw) at both terminals
on display during the promotional period which ended on
the last day of Chinese New Year. The collaboration will also
see events at KLIA and klia2 highlighting Melaka's richness
in heritage and culture allowing travellers and passengers
around the world to get the latest travel information including
hotel accommodations, tourist attractions, places of interest,
events, festivals, deals and promotions within the state.
In conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration, a
special welcome reception was also held for passengers of
China Southern Airlines Flight CZ349 on January 29. The
welcome reception was attended by Melaka Chief Minister,
Datuk Seri Idris Haron and wife, Datin Seri Fadilah Abdullah,
together with Malaysia Airports Managing Director, Datuk
Badlisham Ghazali and wife, Datin Rogayah Ibrahim.
Badlisham said that as custodian of several major gateways
into the country, Malaysia Airports wishes to enhance its
efforts in bringing the joyful Malaysian experience closer
to international guests as well as helping to achieve the
country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020.
He added, "Malaysia Airports certainly laud the government’s
efforts to play an active role to ensure the success of Visit
ASEAN Year 2017 and Visit ASEAN@50 campaigns, as well
as to attract 8 million Chinese arrivals into Malaysia by 2020.
As proud Malaysians, we take pride in having such a rich and
diversified culture. I believe we have the perfect platform
to reach and share our culture with visitors to our country."
In his speech, Idris said, "Although Melaka is just a small
state, but it has always stood tall with other developed cities
such as Singapore and Hong Kong and has become one of
the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In 2016,
Melaka received 16.28 million tourist arrival and expected
to receive 16.75 million tourists this year. Out of the figure,
1.35 million or 26.72% are tourists from China, an increment
of 472,692 tourists or 53.77% compared to the year of 2015.
History shows that Melaka has strong connections with
China since ancient times and in the recent years, friendly
cooperation between Melaka and Chinese provinces and
cities has been making progress, with great potential for
bilateral cooperation in fields like maritime economy, culture
and tourism."
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