Melaka: The 'Melaka Tourism Passport' introduced by the state government promises visitors savings of up to RM268 across 63 tourism products in the state as part of the Visit Melaka Year 2.0 (TMM2.0) and Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) initiatives.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the passport, priced at RM5, offers discounts of up to 80 percent, attractive tourism packages, and special rates for admission tickets to various tourism destinations.
Tourism Melaka promotion division general manager Nasrul Ahmad shared that the initiative is designed to invigorate the state's tourism sector and encourage extended stays in Melaka. The goal is to attract 19 million tourists by 2026. The tourism offerings include 35 attractions, 15 accommodations, four dining establishments, four shopping centers, and five health tourism packages. For instance, there are discounts available such as 10 percent off the Melaka River Cruise and Menara Taming Sari, and up to 20 percent off attractions like Bayou Lagoon Water Park, Magic Art 3D Museum, and Cheng Ho Cultural Museum.
Nasrul highlighted that the Melaka Tourism Passport also features 'Treat and Travel' packages with four private hospitals, aiming to draw medical tourists. Besides the monetary benefits, the passport can be a keepsake, allowing visitors to collect stamps from each location. Since its launch late last year, 10,000 copies have been printed and are available at Tourism Melaka kiosks in Banda Hilir and various tourism spots including Menara Taming Sari, Melaka River Cruise, and Zoo Melaka. Some tourism industry players are also offering the passport free of charge to entice visitors to use their services.
The state government hopes this initiative will encourage tourists, especially from China, to extend their stays in Melaka to at least three days and two nights, as most currently visit for shorter durations. To boost its reach, Tourism Melaka plans to collaborate with associations, NGOs, and travel agencies that cater to Chinese tourists to promote the Melaka Tourism Passport.