How Tourism is contributing to economy and jobs in Melaka?

One among the 14 states of Malaysia is Melaka, located in the south western coast of the country. A well-know historical place, it is one of the popular tourist destinations of Malaysia and also one of the world’s heritage sites. It has been rightly said that “if you visit Melaka, you are visiting Malaysia”. When it comes to jobs in Melaka, it is the tourism sector which is contributing to employment of the state, including the growth of the economy.

How Tourism is contributing to economy and jobs in Melaka?

It has been reported that Tourism sector contributes around 46% of the GDP of the state. More than 50% of the jobs in Melaka for the locals are in the tourism and its related sectors. It is an affordable tourist destination, and this industry promotes the sustenance of the local population and directly supports their economic well-being. The Melaka port is strategically located and has an ease of access for shipping. Most of the business activities of the city are flourishing because of the booming tourism industry and the thriving Melaka economy. The tourist sector provides lots of opportunities to the business communities of the city.

Major Tourism sectors for jobs in Melaka

There are five sectors of the tourism industry, which are the major contributors for jobs in Melaka. These five major divisions of tourism are as follows:

• Accommodation: Accommodation sector in Melaka has recorded more than 60% of tourist expenditure. More and more new hotels, B&B, resorts, inns, and apartments are coming up with the growth in the number of tourists every year. The best part is that in Melaka, you will find accommodation in every price range, right from the budget hotels to the luxurious resorts, catering various needs of tourism demand market. No wonder, the local population can apply for different jobs in Melaka in the accommodation sector of Tourism. Most of the budget hotels are run by the local people, especially local Chinese and Malays. Major multinational hotels, international and franchise hotels are also there in Melaka offering lucrative job opportunities.
   
• Food and beverages: Food and beverages sector is another important sector of the tourist industry in Melaka. It has been reported that tourists spend quite a lot in this sector after accommodation. In fact, Melaka is considered as a food paradise destination. The Melaka cuisine is, in fact, quite different cuisine from the Malay, Chinese, Nyonya, India and Portuguese. Locally owned food businesses like warong and local food hawkers are in great demand. There are food hawkers and stalls in Melaka managed by the local Malays and Chinese. Local youths can opt for various jobs in Melaka in this sector.
  
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• Shopping: Shopping sector is mainly dominated by locally owned and managed shopping/souvenirs vendors. There is significant demand of authentic local products from local vendors, instead of the international brands products offered in many outlets in the city. The shopping sector offers varied jobs in Melaka, right from sales person in the shops to marketing professionals, managers in the larger outlets.
  
  
• Entertainment: With the growth of the tourism sector, comes the growth of the entertainment sector where local youths can look for varied jobs in Melaka. The locally-managed entertainment cultural and recreational activities offer great scope for the local people to get engaged in some kind of activities or the other, which also pay them. In Melaka, most of the entertainment activities like cruise, cultural performances, theater are managed by the state government
  
  
• Transportation: No tourism is possible without a good transportation system. The local community is actively involved in the transportation business in Melaka. Melaka has a good number of trishaw and taxi services, which the tourists make use for local transportation. Most of the local Malays are engaged as drivers or trishaw pullers. Melaka trishaw has become one of the highest transportation demands in the city.

So when it comes to jobs in Melaka, the local community, both the skilled and unskilled labor force, is involved in these employment sectors related to the tourism industry.