Melaka aims to attract high-spending tourists from Tamil Nadu and Kerala to visit the historic state via air routes.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis said talks were ongoing with airlines for directs flights from Southern India to the Melaka International Airport (LTAM).

“We are also discussing with the Indian Tourism Ministry to bring in the high spenders from both the states.

“The tourists from Southern India have purchasing power and Melaka can benefit from their arrivals,” he said after

launching a wedding festival at a shopping complex here on Tuesday (Sept 6).

Muhammad Jailani said Malaysia has a consulate-general in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and there is a tourism attaché based there.

“Hence, we can tap the Southern India tourism market,” he said.