MELAKA RIVER CRUISE POPULAR WITH VISITORS

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2017/12/29/06/12/melaka.ashx/?w=620&h=413&crop=1&hash=1438F7F285D38147580D9E1854D89E4D791DBC52

The Melaka river cruise has become a must for visitors to the state.

MELAKA: Approximately 1.07 million visitors have cruised down the historic Melaka river via the Melaka River Cruise (MRC) service between January and now, compared to 991,108 visitors recorded in the corresponding period last year.

Melaka River and Beach Development Corporation chief executive officer Nazary Ahmad said the number was expected to continue to rise next year following the various infrastructural improvements being made to provide more comfort to visitors.

“We expect the number to rise by 10.03% as the MRC has become one of the must-visit attractions in Melaka,” he said at an event to announce the winner of the “Cruise and Win” lucky draw here.

Muhd Azam Muhd Said, 24, from Padang Jambu was the lucky winner of a Perodua Axia, the main prize for the lucky draw which was opened to all visitors who purchased their MRC tickets directly from the MRC counter.

The new price for Malaysian adult is between RM13 and RM18, non-citizens (RM18 to RM23), Malaysian children below 12 (RM6.50), non-Malaysian children (RM10), senior citizens, the disabled, students (RM10) and chartered boat (RM720 to RM920).

The new prices were introduced in line with the rising cost of operations, price of boats, workers’ salaries, boat maintenance and cleaning of Melaka river.

“This is the minimum increase upon review after 10 years,” he added. - Bernama

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/12/29/melaka-river-cruise-a-big-hit-number-of-visitors-expected-to-increase-following-infrastructural-impr/#CyGVHlR7ljiRClre.99

MELAKA CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE HAS STARTED

10,000 expected at national-level Christmas celebration in Melaka today.

Kelly Koh

New Straits Times26 December 2017

MELAKA: The national-level Christmas celebration is expected to draw some 10,000 visitors at the Proclamation of Independence Memorial here tomorrow night.

Tourism Malaysia senior director of domestic & events, Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar said preparations are fully completed, with participants carrying out rehearsals today as Melaka plays host to the celebration which will officially begin at 8.30pm tomorrow.

"We are ready with decorations, stage performances, exhibition booths as well as food. We are just doing the final touches today and rehearsing for the event tomorrow.

"The venue has been decorated with a sea of green and red, in line with the colours of Christmas to enliven the atmosphere," he told the New Straits Times here today.

Khairuden Kathni, putting up Christmas ornament near the stage in conjunction with national - level Christmas Day at the Proclamation of Independence Memorial, Bandar Hilir. Pix by Muhammad Zuhairi Zuber

The event, organised by Tourism Malaysia under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, will feature a series of activities which include exhibitions and demonstrations by 11 agencies under the ministry. Also on the cards are a Christmas idol competition, fashion recycle competition and performances by local artistes.

The highlight of the event is a lucky draw, with 100 prizes to be won. Apart from a motorcycle as the grand prize, other prizes include travel packages within Malaysia, and electrical items.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018

Tourism-Melaka will like to express our Merry Christmas wishes to all Christians around the world.

May we also greet everyone a very Happy New Year 2018.

Peace,  Harmony and Happiness in 2018

DANANG, HUE IMPERIAL GROUND - ANOTHER UNESCO CULTURAL SITE

Besides Hoi An, we visited Danang and Imperial grounds in Hue.

DANANG used to be a small fishing village before it was transformed into a modern city with a deep sea port.

The Dragon Bridge is one of the many bridges that crosses the Han River. The dragon head sprays out water and spits out fire every Saturday at 9.00 pm.

DANANG Bay has a very long beach and is very scenic.

Overlooking DANANG Bay is a 65 meters high of Kwan Ying, Goddess of Mercy. It glows at night where fishermen can see her from South China Sea.

Hue used to be the Imperial capital of Vietnam before it was colonised by the French in 1858.

Entrance into Hue Imperial Grounds. A most surrounds the entire palace grounds.

Vietnam pushed out the French in 1950s.

MELAKA MONORAIL ATTRACTS PASSENGERS

Malacca monorail attracts 10k tourists since it resumed operations

Bernama
22 Dec 2017, 7:57 pm (Updated 22 Dec 2017, 8:08 pm)The monorail service has managed to attract 10,000 local and foreign tourists since it resumed operations on Dec 4, 2017, said Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron.

Melaka Monorail in operation

The service was suspended in 2013 due to technical problems.

He said the state government has a 50 percent share in the revenue from the services provided by Monorail Theme Park and Studios Sdn Bhd, which was projected at RM1.2 million per year.

“Hence, maintenance must be given priority to avoid any technical problem that would affect the monorail service and jeopardise the investment,” he told reporters after officiating the Monorail Tour Ride at the Tun Ali Monorail Station in Malacca today.

Also present were Deputy Tourism, River, Beach and Island Development Committee chairperson Ghazale Muhamad and MBMB mayor Zainal Hussin.

Read more at https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/406362#Fy9HbeEuR9rEWrGw.99

CHECKING OUT HOI AN UNESCO CULTURAL HERITAGE IN VIETNAM

We visited Hoi An, UNESCO Cultural Heritage city in Central Vietnam.

Hoi An Heritage area

MELAKA MONORAIL RECEIVED GOOD RESPONSE

Good response a positive sign for Melaka monorail

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• NATION
• Tuesday, 12 Dec 2017

MELAKA: The city council expects to recoup
its investment in the tourist monorail
based on the volume of passengers
using the train since it resumed
service on Dec 4.

Prior to this, it had been lying
idle for more than four years.

In less than a week, it had
attracted 2,050 ­passengers, exceeding
the initial projections set by
the Melaka Historic City Council,
which operates the service.

Mayor Datuk Zainal Hussin said
the council was confident of
getting back its investment on
the monorail if this positive
response
conti­nues until the middle of
next year.

Each ride takes about 30
minutes at a speed of 10kph,
circling scenic Sungai Melaka.

“Currently, one locomotive is
being utilised and a second
train is expected to be operational
by next year. The train can carry
24 passengers per trip.
On Saturday, we recorded our highest total
volume ever – 650 passengers,” he added.

The Melaka Monorail is the
only tourist monorail in the
country, connecting Taman Rempah to
the Hang Tuah Station in
Jalan Bunga Raya, a distance of
1.6km.

The RM15.9mil service started
operations on Oct 20, 2010, but
stalled about 100m from its
main Hang Jebat station with 20 pioneer passengers.

A year later, 18 tourists from
Hong Kong, along with their
tour leader and guide, were
also left stranded 300m from the
same station.

This led to the Land Public
Transport Commission suspending
the service.

The China-made monorail line is
part of the state’s plan to draw more
tourists here.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/12/good-response-a-positive-sign-for-melaka-monorail/#W1kPU7JkHb4Cb45b.99

MELAKA HSR STATION

Planned High Speed Rail Melaka station a modern take on state’s historical past

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• METRO NEWS
• Saturday, 9 th. December 2017

MELAKA: The design of the proposed
Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail
(KL-SG HSR) station in Ayer Keroh here
has received the most praise
from the public as compared to the
other six stations along the 350km route.

MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd commercial
director Tonny Yeap said the findings
was based on an unofficial poll conducted
by the company involving 500 respondents 
from across the country.

He said the Melaka station has struck
the right balance between the image of a 
merchant ship symbolising the entrepreneurial 
spirit of the local communities and the modern 
aspect of the design.

“A lot of people, both Malaysians as well as
international experts, have expressed their 
appreciation for the design of the HSR Melaka 
station.

Also present was MyHSR project delivery director Mark Loader.

image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2017/12/08/20/59/mets_091217_pg3_mlkhsr_evelyn_1.ashx?h=307&&w=620&la=en

The unique design of the HSR Melaka station in Ayer Keroh has received the thumbs-up from the majority of the 500 respondents in an unofficial poll conducted by MyHSR Corp Sdn Bhd.

Yeap said the unique design of the station bodes well for Melaka, which was widely known for its historical city status.

“To see a design which can incorporate all of this and yet looks very modern and attractive is something that the people really appreciate,” he said.

The other six HSR stations will be located in Bandar Malaysia, Bangi-Putrajaya, Seremban, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Puteri.

On another matter, Yeap said the HSR route between Melaka and Singapore was expected to record one of the highest ridership once the service commences in 2026.

He said the route between KL and Singapore will record the most number of passengers while the Melaka-Singapore route would be among the top three popular routes.

Meanwhile, Loader said the KL-SG HSR project had received overwhelming support from the people of Melaka.

He said 95% of respondents in Melaka had provided positive feedback on the project via the public inspection exercise that began on Nov 1.

“A total of seven permanent and temporary public inspection booths are located in Melaka throughout the public inspection period, which will end on January 31, 2018,” he said.

He said further information regarding the KL-SG HSR project and the ongoing public inspection exercise were available at www.myhsr.com.my

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/12/09/building-design-draws-praise-planned-high-speed-rail-melaka-station-a-modern-take-on-states-historic/#GrcCrrL0JoSHovy4.99