Discovering Melaka with Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with VMTM 2025
Gaya Travel Magazine team, together with other selected fellow media and influencers, was recently invited by Tourism Malaysia to explore Melaka in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Travel Meet (VMTM) 2025, a large-scale initiative aimed at strengthening domestic tourism promotion. Interestingly, during the time of our visit, Melaka was also hosting other well-publicised events such as the World Tourism Day 2025 celebration, the World Tourism Conference, and the launch of Visit Malaysia 2026 in a span of a few days, indicating this tourism destination’s ability to punch above its own weight.
Nestled on the sun-kissed shores of the Strait of Malacca, Melaka stands as a timeless jewel in Malaysia’s crown where ancient spice trade routes whisper tales of Portuguese conquerors, Dutch traders, and Peranakan legacies, all woven into a vibrant tapestry of multicultural harmony. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage City, Melaka enchants visitors with its seamless blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all offering a sensory journey through heritage, cuisine, and creativity. Whether you’re a history buff chasing colonial echoes or a foodie drawn to its culinary crossroads, Melaka welcomes you with open arms, ready to unfold its secrets and leave you yearning for more.
Villa Sentosa was built by Tuan Haji Hashim, the son of Datuk Demang Haji Abdul Ghani, a founder of Kampung Morten 
The photograph of Tuan Haji Hashim (top) and his family portrait (bottom) 
Antiques and vintage objects on display along a hallway inside Villa Sentosa 
An old-school locally-styled bedroom at Villa Sentosa 
An antique dressing table and wardrobe complement Villa Sentosa’s nostalgic vibe 
The dining area inside Villa Sentosa
During Gaya Travel Magazine team’s exploration of Melaka, the team immersed in local heritage and checked out memorable historical landmarks such as the 101-year-old house that functions as the free privately-run Villa Sentosa in the traditional Malay village called Kampung Morten right smack in the heart of Melaka city, replete with nostalgic artefacts owned by the family of Tuan Hj. Hashim bin Dato Demang Hj. Abdul Ghani; traversed the Heritage Walk that brought us to the Stadthuys, St. Paul’s Church on Bukit Melaka, the remnant of A Famosa fort at the foot of Bukit Melaka, the landmarks within the Melaka World Heritage UNESCO core area for instance Masjid Kampung Kling, Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Hindu Temple, and Cheng Hoon Teng temple, including the popular and bustling Jonker Street that becomes pedestrian-only in the evening of Fridays until Sundays when the stretch hosts a night market; and rode on the Melaka River Cruise to take in the views of this quaint city from the water.
The Stadthuys, built in 1650, including the clock tower, follow the Dutch colonial architecture 
Next to the Stadthuys and the red shophouses along Jalan Laksamana is the Dutch-built Anglican Christ Church 
The interior of St. Paul’s Church that contains Dutch graves and tombstones 
The remains of the Portuguese-built A Famosa at the foothill of Bukit Melaka 
Masjid Kampung Kling from the outside 
Closer look of the inside of Masjid Kampung Kling 
Cheng Hoon Teng temple 
The Jonker Walk night market held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6pm until midnight 
Inside the vessel used for Melaka River Cruise
The Gaya Travel team members also had the opportunity to savour delicious asam pedas (savoury spicy sour gravy dish) at Asam Pedas Pak Man in Ayer Keroh, delicious and highly commendable Nyonya cuisine at Atlantic Nyonya Melaka Raya in Melaka Raya, and grilled seafood at Restoran Ikan Bakar Parameswara in Ayer Molek.
Tourism Malaysia even brought the team to the vibrant Malaysia Heritage Studios, where the team were feted with replicas of traditional houses throughout Malaysia, learned about Malaysian culture and heritage inside these houses, explored a maze filled with legendary creatures, and watched a cultural dance performance.
Entrance to Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Pulau Pinang traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Selangor traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Melaka traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
Visitors can follow the presentation about the glory days of the Sultanate of Melaka inside the replica of Melaka traditional house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Terengganu traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Sarawak traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Sabah traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
A replica of a Negeri Sembilan traditional wooden house at Malaysia Heritage Studios 
The cultural show at Malaysia Heritage Studios invites visitors to dance together with the performers at the end
From this trip, the team found that Melaka brims with memorable attractions that stay with us for many years to come and warrant repeat visits, thus Gaya Travel team looks forward to returning to Melaka soon because the team members did not seem to get enough of what this charming destination has to offer…
Visit Malaysia Travel Meet (VMTM) 202The 5
Held from 26 to 28 September 2025 at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC), the inaugural Visit Malaysia Travel Meet 2025 (VMTM 2025) featured two main segments: business-to-business (B2B) sessions between industry players and corporate companies, and business-to-consumer (B2C) sessions that were open to the public.
VMTM 2025 was officially launched by YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, Chief Minister of Melaka. The organisation of VMTM 2025 is timely in positioning Malaysia as a premier tourist destination and in showcasing the country’s rich arts and cultural heritage to international delegates attending the World Tourism Day, the World Tourism Conference 2025, and the Launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) in Melaka. Also present was YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
With over 180 exhibitors offering exclusive travel packages and special promotions, VMTM 2025 not only supported the growth of the tourism industry but also encouraged corporations to host Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events in Malaysia.
Visitors flocking to the Tourism Melaka pavilion at VMTM 2025 to check out the state’s tourism offerings 
Some more visitors at the Tourism Melaka pavilion to obtain information 
Melaka Geopark stand at VMTM 2025 
Local crafts on sale at VMTM 2025 
Tourism Perak pavilion at VMTM 2025 
Ghost Museum stand at VMTM 2025 
Langkawi Development Authority pavilion promoting Langkawi at VMTM 2025 
Keretapi Tanah melayu berhad stand at VMTM 2025 
Homestay Kampung Lukut stand at VMTM 2025
Besides offering a unique experience through a variety of interactive activities involving local crafts, arts, culture, and traditional cuisine, VMTM 2025 was expected to further stimulate domestic tourism — both interstate and intrastate — in achieving the target of 280 million domestic tourist arrivals in 2025, while building momentum for Visit Malaysia 2026.
Among the tourism packages offered were adventure activities such as water sports, nature exploration, theme parks, and cultural experiences. Visitors enjoyed live performances, traditional dances, and lucky draw activities as well.
Participating agencies and departments under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) included Istana Budaya, National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA), National Visual Arts Development Board, Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), Department of National Heritage, Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia), Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and Hotel Seri Malaysia.
The programme was supported by various state tourism bodies, including Tourism Melaka, Tourism Pahang, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Tourism Perak, Tourism Johor, and the Sarawak Tourism Board.
Thank you Tourism Malaysia for making Gaya Travel team’s visit to Melaka possible and smooth-sailing. For more information on Malaysia, visit https://www.malaysia.travel/.
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