MELAKA TO HAVE ARAB VILLAGE TO WOO TOURISTS

MELAKA (Malaysia), Jan 23 (Bernama) -- An Arab village will be set up in
Melaka to attract more tourists, especially from Middle East countries, to visit
the state, Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said Thursday.

Melaka (formerly known as Malacca) is a city and seaport in Malaysia,
capital of Melaka State on the southern coast of the Malay Peninsula, on the
Strait of Malacca.

He said an investor from Saudi Arabia was willing to invest RM300 million
for the project.

The village will have an Arabic Bazaar, comprising 300 shops, and also
replicas of the various popular tourist destinations in the Middle East
countries, he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive council
meeting.

Mohd Ali said that five traditional villages in Melaka -- Kampung Bukit
China, Kampung Bandar Kaba, Kampung Limbungan, Kampung Terengkera and Kampung
Ujung Pasir -- would be declared "heritage villages", in addition to three --
Kampung Chitty, Kampung Morten and Kampung Portugis -- which had been given the
status by the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

He also said a study would be carried out by the state government on the
feasibility of having a tram service in the Melaka town.

-- BERNAMA