In a recent interview, The Chief Minister of Melaka, Y.A.B. Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd. Ali bin Mohd. Rustam spoke to us on his visions and hopes for Melaka in terms of ‘Tourism Appeal’ and he broached on the subject of having moreQuality Product and Services offered to the visiting tourists from Melaka business men and women.
He stressed the importance of equating a good service sector to not just appearances but also a higher quality of products on offer.
He reminisced with us the differing standards that Melaka had on offer then and now. With the added attraction that the Unesco Heritage City acknowledgement has provided to our fair city many businesses had partaken in the benefits of tourism since and Datuk Seri hopes to see more quality pamphlets, business sign boards to be put up by local business men in Melaka to give the city state a fresher more modern , cheerier outlook.
With our beloved city state Melaka receiving more visitors year on year, we have moved up on the radar of tourism appeal in terms of selection for business visits and family outings by in bound tourists and although we have also moved up the ladder in terms of types of tourism products available, Melaka can now safely be said to be no longer a low cost destination nor are our services only catered to the lower end tourist market.
He was quick to point out though ‘’That does not mean this city is too expensive but that it is now offering a higher range of services for those seeking that particular market. Melaka is still relatively a cheaper destination compared to our southern or northern neighbours’’.
As an example Datuk Seri mentioned the recent Melaka World Heritage Europe International Golf tournament between business men in Melaka and Europe in which the Melaka side won 38-15. He was happy that with the advent of such games and sporting events, more people from around the globe will come to appreciate the beauty and tourism offerings of Melaka
Personally, he cited that one of the reasons Melaka is able to go up the rung in the services and business ladder is due to the private sectors strong support to the state governments’ policies and action plans i.e. the recent agreement between business owners and the state Govt to ensure all Front Liners use Kebaya’s and Batik’s whilst performing their duties.
He ended this interview by adding ‘’In terms of taxes collected from these businesses, the heritage tax had accumulated a RM 1.7 million collection last year and a portion of these monies had been disbursed back to the industry through Non Governmental Organisations, public facility upgrade and promotions’’.
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