MELAKA, Being picked to host World Tourism Day 2025 (WTD2025) is a great recognition for Melaka that will place it in the international spotlight, says State Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Executive Committee member Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.
"The WTD2025 to be held in Melaka is through the selection of Malaysia as the host nation by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), therefore we cannot waste the opportunity to organise this event.
“This includes the initial effort of establishing the WTD2025 Secretariat to ensure that the event has a positive impact, and runs smoothly to host 150 UNWTO heads of state in Melaka," he told reporters in Ayer Keroh here today.
Earlier, Abdul Razak officiated the 2022/2023 Melaka State Art and Culture Awards Presentation Ceremony (ASBN) which was also attended by the National Department of Culture and Arts’ (JKKN) Culture and Arts Enhancement Division director Suhaimi Abdul Rahim and State JKKN director Ezlina Alias.
Commenting further, Abdul Razak said he represented the state government in expressing his appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for nominating Melaka as the host at the UNWTO General Assembly in Uzbekistan, recently.
He said organising the WTD2025 would also be a continuation of the state's efforts to make Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM2024) a success and indirectly play a big role in celebrating Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
WTD2025 is scheduled to take place on Sept 27, 2025 with the theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation' aimed at fostering awareness among the international community about the importance of tourism and its universal social, cultural, political and economic values.
Meanwhile, Abdul Razak said the state government was also planning to establish the Dondang Sayang Institute in Perkampungan Hang Tuah in Duyong here next year to dignify and preserve the artistic and cultural heritage of the Melaka community.
He said the proposal was now in the final phase of obtaining approval from the State Executive Council.
"We hope that the younger generation will benefit from the establishment of this institute, while also attracting students from abroad to gain a deeper knowledge of the art of the Dondang Sayang," he said.
Earlier, at the event, a total of 19 individuals received awards in various categories with the highest honour being the Melaka State Cultural Arts Award, which was awarded to the National Book Development Foundation’s board of governors chairman, Tan Sri Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency