Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh flagging off the Melaka 2024 Dragon Boat Parade at the Malaysia-China Friendship Square in Banda Hilir today. -- NSTP/MEOR RIDUWAN MEOR AHMAD
MELAKA: The decision to appoint popular Chinese actree Fan BingBing as Visit Melaka 2024 (TMM2024) ambassador does not involve huge expenses, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
He said the state government only provides logistics for the 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' star's stay in Melaka.
He also said that Fan Bingbing has yet to be officially appointed and will be formally declared the TMM 2024 ambassador when she arrives in Melaka next weekend.
Ab Rauf said he has considered suggestions and comments from netizens regarding the issue and is confident that her appointment can help attract foreign tourists, particularly fans of the international actress, to Melaka.
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"I have listened carefully to netizens' suggestions and comments. I can tell you that Fan Bingbing's presence will boost tourism in Melaka.
"We (the state government) are not incurring huge expenses. We are only managing logistics as a Malaysian company is sponsoring her flight tickets to bring her here.
"So, we are taking this opportunity to have a public figure promote Melaka tourism for TMM 2024," he said after officiating the Melaka 2024 Dragon Boat Parade at the Malaysia-China Friendship Square in Banda Hilir today.
Present were Melaka state financial officer Datuk Salhah Salleh, state Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management COmmittee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin, and state Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.
(FILES) Chinese actor Fan Bingbing attends a press conference for her film ‘Green Night’ at the 28th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan on October 5, 2023. -- AFP FILEPIC
Ab Rauf said his team will release the official schedule for meet-and-greet sessions with Fan Bingbing on June 14, 15 and 16.
"I understand that Fan Bingbing is very interested in developing Melaka's tourism and initially intended to visit as a tourist.
"But our advantage is that her Asian manager is a Malaysian who suggested that during her visit to Melaka, she could offer her services to promote the state.
"The state government is very grateful to accept this offer. We are only providing logistics to support her presence in Melaka," he said.
"Fan Bingbing is influential, so wherever she goes, her fans will follow her.
"When I went to Switzerland, I saw many tourists taking pictures on a snowy mountain peak called 'Shah Rukh Khan Mountain' because he once filmed there.
"I hope this approach can also be translated in Melaka, with the presence of Fan Bingbing to attract tourists."
On the Melaka 2024 Dragon Boat Parade, Ab Rauf said it involved 13 teams with 150 participants.
He added that tomorrow, the Malaysia-China Dragon Boat Regatta 2024 will take place at Dataran Melaka Sentral Riverfront, Sungai Melaka, gathering more than 400 participants from all over Malaysia, including China.
"Two categories will be contested: open and mixed, with a total prize of RM13,200.00."
