TOURISM MELAKA TRUST FUND

 NationTrust fund to be established to manage Melaka heritage fees, preserve historic city

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By RSN MURALI

Tuesday, 28 Apr 2026 | 7:10 PM MYT

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MELAKA: The Melaka Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution to establish a Heritage Fee Trust Fund to support the preservation and sustainability of the historic city’s heritage assets.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh (pic) said the fund would provide a structured mechanism to manage proceeds from a heritage fee imposed on tourists staying at registered hotels in the state.

He stressed that the fee would be carried out by hotels and channelled to local authorities acting as agents for the state government.

Ab Rauf said the move was in line with the state’s responsibility of preserving heritage sites following Melaka’s recognition, together with Georgetown, as a Unesco World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.

"This recognition is not merely a matter of pride but a responsibility that requires continuous commitment from the state government to preserve and safeguard this heritage for future generations,” he said when tabling the motion on Tuesday (April 2

He added that the heritage fee would serve as a dedicated source of funding for conservation and tourism-related preservation efforts.