International hotel chains have sprung up since 2008 when Malacca and Georgetown, Penang were declared Heritage Cities by UNESCO.
Tourist arrivals have climbed from 8 million visitors to about 15 million visitors in 2014. The Melaka state government has called for local enterprises to set up home stays and boutique hotels or inns. International hotel chains have built five stars hotels in Malacca non-heritage areas.
Ramada Plaza, Holiday Inn and Hatten hotel are some of the high rise hotels constructed. Recently, Swiss Garden Hotel, Melaka and The Pines and Novotel have opened for business. Double Tree and Ibis Hotels are being constructed. All these hotels cater for high income visitors and organised tour groups from overseas.
There is a market for specialised and boutique accommodation where clean, safe and reasonable priced inns or residences are offered to longer stay visitors within the city centres.
Long term visitors want to walk and enjoy the slow pace of life in Malacca. They want Internet access to communicate with their friends worldwide, cheap and nice local cuisines and saviour the history of Malacca at their leisure pace.
They do not want to end up in jams, rat race and high costs of living.
With these factors in mind, there are plans ( though in infancy ) to open our own Home stay @ 12, Kee Ann Road, Malacca.
In the 1930s, our grandfather foundered Kong Hing grocer shop at the existing shop house. After his passing in 1950 due to poor health, the shop was managed by a relative as my father was not keen to be a businessman.
Kong Hing grocery shop lasted until 1971 before the shop house was handed back to my father.
To expand further.
