Over 70 percent drop in tourist arrivals to Melaka last year

Malacca Published 3 years ago on 1 March 2021 | Author TIN Media
MELAKA:

The Covid-19 pandemic has a major impact on all state economic sectors, especially the tourism sector, and last year's arrival in tourist destinations has declined by over 70%.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said this was compared to 2019, when Melaka had received 18.7 million tourists, with total revenue of RM21.298 billion.

He said the sector is now prioritised with various incentives to revive the economic sector, thereby driving the economic growth of the State as a State known for its tourism activities.

“Among them is to continue the ‘Melakan Visit Melaka’ Campaign starting from March 8 until December 31 next year to revive the tourism industry in the state which is getting worse following a series of movement control orders (MCOs) enforced by the government.

“This is due to the fact that in just three months of its previous implementation, the response received was very encouraging and the campaign has succeeded in reviving the tourism industry in the state,” he said when met after the Melaka government’s one-off donation presentation ceremony under the 2021 Budget initiative for trishaw paddlers.

He visited the Jonker Street tourist centre earlier. Senator Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry, was also present.

Sulaiman said, meanwhile, all residents of Melaka 18 years of age or older, including foreign employees, will not be exempt from receiving the vaccine Covid-19, with 600,000 doses allocated to the State in three phases.

“So far, the state government does not intend to buy the vaccine because the amount given to Melaka is enough. So we will only use the vaccine that has been purchased by the Federal government, including the free vaccines for the 40,000 foreign workers,” he said.