Yong Tai Bhd, one of Malaysia’s largest tourism-related property developers has received approval from the Melaka state government to develop an international cruise terminal by 2022. The MYR 8 billion (USD 1.9 billion) deep-sea port is to be built facing Straits of Melaka at the Impression City, Yong Tai’s existing flagship project.
Following the approval, Yong Tai has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Cruise Center Pte Ltd (SCC) as the proposed terminal’s operator and manager. The proposed project will also be integrated with the group’s Terra Square mixed development project at the Impression City involving a retail mall and its Encore Melaka theatre.
In 2019, around 60 cruise ships landed in Melaka through its existing terminals at Melaka Marina and Melaka Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex with an average of 2,000 tourists aboard each ship. The Melaka state government and the other shipping agencies are currently developing other two ports in Tanjung Bruas and Kuala Linggi.
(Sources: The Edge Prop; New Straits Times)