Desaru Coast is a premium integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s most anticipated new tourism developments creating a unique blend of globally renowned hotels and resorts, a conference centre, a 27-hole and 18-hole golf course, a themed water park and a retail village.
Located on the south-eastern region of the country, in the state of Johor, Desaru Coast spans over 3,900 acres along a pristine 17km unspoiled beachfront, that faces eastwards over the clear ocean waters. The destination is easily accessible via road, air and sea, and is expected to welcome a wave of new travellers to its shores, attracted by its array of fun activities, renowned hotel brands and the unique Desaru Coast lifestyle.
The resort is anchored by world-class hotels and resorts for premium travellers and a Conference Centre fitted with modern facilities. Featuring a perfect blend of business and pleasure, it also offers a 27-hole and 18-hole championship golf course with a supreme view of the coastline, a themed water park for families keen for an invigorating splash of adventure and a retail village with a wide range of offerings.
Encore Melaka, a world-class performance attraction, opened its doors this July
Just some of the hotels present in the project include The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas (expected to open next year), and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast (opening this quarter).
Desaru Coast Riverside is a stunning 23-acre waterfront landscaped retail and lifestyle village located in the heart of Desaru Coast, it has been receiving guests since June this year. It integrates the entrances of the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark (opened earlier this year), The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Desaru Coast Conference Centre.
The Els Club Desaru Coast – Ocean Course was launched in 2016 and Valley Course was launched in 2017.
A newly launched attraction, Encore Melaka is a world-class performance finally opened its door to the public in July this year.
Directed by Wang Chaoge (The creative force behind the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony) – after studying Melaka’s history, culture, traditions and people for two years – Encore Melaka is a state-of-the-art production of Wang’s retelling of Melaka's beginnings and growth through time and space. Depicted through a myriad of compelling songs and dances, it is a compilation of cultural stories that reflect a society embracing diversity and inclusiveness.
The 70-minute long mega show recounts the long-forgotten tales: stories of the early voyagers, legacy of Cheng Ho’s diplomatic mission, indigenous settlement and cross-cultural encounters such as the Baba Nyonya. The audience will be transported through different eras, presented in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, local dialects and Portuguese to reflect the harmony that exists within Melaka.
Encore Melaka introduces Southeast Asia’s first performing arts theatre with a 360-degree rotating audience platform facing a 240-metre-long stage with multiple hydraulic stages. Throughout the performance, there will be a 3-D projection mapping with intricate theatre props creating a virtual reality that allow audience to travel through times.
The geometric façade has concaved arcs made out of thousands of fish scale-like LED panes, which reflects light from the ever-changing and vibrant sky of Melaka. The Encore Melaka theatre embodies the cloud and the sea, movement and serenity, and where East meets West. This unconventional time and space, complementing the Encore Melaka.
The theatre is located in Melaka’s most prominent site, along the city’s waterfront, 3.5km from Jonker Street in No. 1 Jalan KSB, Impression 8, Impression City @ Kota Syahbandar, 75200, Melaka, Malaysia, a new tourism-cultural integrated development from Yong Tai Berhad.
* Shahrin Mokhtar is area director of Tourism Malaysia