Melaka's timeless allure, refined for a new generation of travelers
As new hotels begin to take root in Melaka's evolving tourism landscape, including a recent addition by Dusit International, Sinar Daily caught up with the brand's COO, Gilles Cretallaz, for a broader conversation on how heritage and hospitality can coexist in a city shaped by history.
He observed that few places in Southeast Asia offer the kind of architectural preservation found in Melaka, a feature that continues to captivate both seasoned travellers and first-time visitors.
For Cretallaz, Melaka's architectural integrity isn't just aesthetic — it's a rare link to the region's layered past, preserved in ways few Southeast Asian cities can still claim.
"The history of Melaka is impressive. I always say that there's not so many places in Southeast Asia, where you still have these heritage buildings. Thanks to Unesco for supporting these sites," he said to Sinar Daily. Dusit International's Chief Operating Officer, Gilles Cretallaz
As Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026, Cretallaz envisions Melaka evolving further as a major tourist hub. He emphasised the importance of maintaining the city's historic core.
'The old city of Melaka is well-protected and that's crucial. Moving forward, we can enhance the experience by adding more authentic and interactive activities.
"A sophisticated night market or opportunities for deeper engagement with local communities could elevate the visitor experience," he suggested.
He also noted the promising potential for growth in the hospitality sector.
'More hotels will undoubtedly emerge, which is beneficial for the state and the local economy. It means more jobs for the community and greater support for tourism,' he said. Check out the Melaka Straits Mosque. Photo: Canva
As efforts intensify for Visit Malaysia 2026, the city's bright future looks set to shine even more brilliantly on the global stage.
What's new in Melaka: Fresh attractions and cultural gems to explore
Melaka isn't just leaning on its laurels — it's actively reinventing itself to meet the tastes of modern travelers. Here's what you should explore:
The Shore Sky Tower : The tallest building in Melaka, The Shore Sky Tower offers panoramic 360-degree views of the city and the Straits of Melaka. Brave the glass-bottomed Sky Deck for a thrilling perspective.
Encore Melaka: This mesmerising 75-minute theatre show features 200 local performers and uses state-of-the-art 360-degree rotating audience seats to tell the story of Melaka's multicultural history.
Mural art trails and street installations: New street art installations in areas beyond Jonker Walk, including Kampung Morten and Jalan Tukang Besi, invite Instagrammers and art lovers alike to explore deeper pockets of local creativity.
Melaka river cruise 2.0: The river cruise has expanded with new commentary in multiple languages and curated night rides that show off Melaka's shimmering riverside like never before. A quaint Melaka boutique keeps tradition alive with its vibrant display of hand-embroidered Nyonya kebaya. Photo:Canva
Pop-up night markets and artisan fairs: Seasonal markets are popping up across the city, offering artisanal food, handmade crafts, and live music. Keep an eye out for events in Dataran Pahlawan and Kota Laksamana.
Revamped museums & heritage homes: Restorations at the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum and the reopening of Villa Sentosa in Kampung Morten mean deeper cultural immersion is just a ticket away.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cambodian economy grows 5.9 pct in H1
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's economy grew 5.9 percent in the first half of 2025, boosted by manufacturing sector, tourism, and agriculture, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said on Monday. The Southeast Asian nation's economy heavily relies on garment, footwear, and travel goods exports, tourism, agriculture, and real estate and construction. The real estate and construction sectors continued to experience sluggish growth during the January-June period this year. "Growth in the first half of this year has not been significantly affected due to the strength of Cambodia's economic base, as the impact of U.S. reciprocal tariffs and Cambodia-Thailand border dispute still has limit," NBC Governor Chea Serey said in a report. "The impact may occur in the second half of 2025," she said. According to the report, the kingdom's inflation stood at 3.5 percent in the first half of this year due to a rise in food prices. However, oil price declined during the period. The report also said that Cambodia's international reserves increased to 24.8 billion U.S. dollars as of June 2025, securing imports of goods and services for the next 7.5 months.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
ClientEarth launches climate guide
KUALA LUMPUR: ClientEarth, a non-governmental organisation focused on climate justice and clean energy transition, has launched Guide on Climate Action for Boards in Southeast Asia. The guide, co-published by Climate Governance Malaysia and Earth on Board, aims to provide corporate directors with insights to address the increasing complexity of climate-related legal risks, regulations, and governance requirements within the region. As Southeast Asia faces increasing vulnerability to both physical climate impacts and transition risks, such as evolving regulations and shifting market preferences and behaviours, it is critical for corporate boards to incorporate climate considerations into their decision-making processes. Home to over 685 million people (8.5% of the world's population), Southeast Asia is projected to account for 6.5% of CO2 emissions by 2040. The region faces threats of (and some areas have already witnessed) rising sea levels, increased heat waves, strengthened typhoons, extreme floods and droughts, and unprecedented weather events. In addition, Asia could lose 14.9% of its GDP by 2050, significantly affecting livelihoods, with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand potentially losing seven times their total economic output without ambitious climate action. Conversely, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 could boost the Asia-Pacific's GDP by 6.3% above projections and create up to 36.5 million additional jobs by the 2030s. In light of this, the need for corporate boards to take decisive climate action has never been more critical. Recent commitments by countries in the Southeast Asian region to achieve net-zero emissions and the growing integration of climate considerations into national policies reflect an urgent call for businesses to adapt swiftly. This guide provides corporate directors with a comprehensive framework for climate governance. It gives guidance on emerging legal risks, including litigation risk directors and corporations face regarding greenwashing and other climate-related liabilities, whilst outlining key regulatory and market shifts in Southeast Asia's net zero transition. Companies that do not adequately consider and manage foreseeable climate risks, and those that cause harm through carbon-intensive operations that exacerbate the climate crisis, are increasingly facing legal action. At the same time, to the extent that a corporation is found liable in a climate lawsuit, directors may also face personal liability for failing to act reasonably in steering the corporation to manage foreseeable climate risks. Drawing from off-the-record stakeholder interviews, the guide offers actionable steps, including: embedding sustainability across board-level committees, establishing dedicated governance structures, assessing climate risks and opportunities, setting science-based climate ambitions, and ensuring alignment throughout the company's value chain. With the growing adoption in Southeast Asia of international reporting standards like those from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the International Sustainability Standards Board, as well as the emergence of foreign regulations such as the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, companies are urged to improve transparency and develop comprehensive decarbonisation transition plans to meet their net zero objectives. In response to these evolving reporting requirements and standards, corporate boards in Southeast Asia play a pivotal role in navigating corporations through the challenges of climate change. Earth on Board Founder and CEO Philippe Joubert said 'At Earth on Board we defend the idea that 2015, with the adoption of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, must be seen as a pivotal year in the area of Boards' duties. 'The fact that the world recognised climate change as a reality and of human origin and has elaborated the main lines of a necessary evolution of the behaviour of economic agents toward all their stakeholders changes dramatically the way we should consider the duties of a board of directors, adding urgency to their actions and deepening the legal responsibilities of this body toward society. 'Duties of care and diligence and responsibility toward the way and the content of what is reported externally by the company are now subject to a different scrutiny by society, and it is urgent that boards understand that this will challenge the way they must fulfil these duties. This guide is a tool to help the boards navigate these fundamental matters.' Climate Governance Malaysia founder and chairperson Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar said: 'The guide highlights how climate leadership goes beyond regulatory compliance, it requires boards to set bold climate ambitions, engage meaningfully with stakeholders, and integrate sustainability into core business strategies. 'As interest in climate-related resolutions and litigations grows in Southeast Asia, corporate boards must step up to drive change, to ensure a positive impact on the communities they serve.' ClientEarth's Energy Systems, Asia team legal consultant Elizabeth Wu said: 'In view of the urgency of the planetary crisis, this guide seeks to encourage robust climate leadership by directors when navigating climate challenges in Southeast Asia. 'By showcasing diverse regional examples, we aim to help directors translate climate ambitions into concrete action. Whether it's establishing effective governance structures, grappling with legal and litigation risks or developing transition plans, the guide provides boards with practical insights adaptable to their unique industry contexts to drive meaningful climate action within their organisation.'
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Palm oil reserves in Malaysia seen surging to 19-month high
Palm oil inventories in Malaysia climbed to the highest level since December 2023 as production in the world's second-biggest grower rebounded, according to a Bloomberg survey. Prices in Kuala Lumpur declined. Stockpiles surged almost 10% from a month earlier to 2.23 million tons in July, a fifth month of gains, the median of 12 estimates in the poll of plantation executives, traders and analysts showed. Estimates of higher supplies in the Southeast Asian nation, coupled with sluggish demand from overseas buyers, could weigh on benchmark prices at a time of the high production cycle, which typically peaks in October. Still, a brighter outlook for purchases from top buyer India ahead of local festivals, as well as robust biodiesel consumption in Indonesia, has cushioned prices recently. Benchmark palm oil futures fell 1.7% to 4,175 ringgit a ton by the midday break on Monday, the lowest intraday level in more than two weeks. That followed an increase of more than 6% in July - the biggest monthly jump since February. Crude palm oil production last month rose 8.3% to 1.83 million tons, the highest level in 11 months, the survey showed. That compared with a decline of 4.5% in June. Exports increased 3.2%, according to the poll. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board will publish its monthly data on August 11. Stockpiles are expected to rise due to a jump in Malaysian production and lower domestic consumption in July, said Anilkumar Bagani, head of research at Mumbai-based Sunvin Group. Still, a level above 2 million tons during the peak production season may not be too "burdensome to prices,' especially when Indonesian palm oil supplies are tight because of high blending rates with petroleum, he said. - Bloomberg
