Visit Pahang Year 2017: Jan, Feb record arrival of more than 2 mil tourists
NST
KUANTAN: Visit Pahang Year 2017 has shifted into high gear, evident with an increase in visitors at six major destinations throughout the state. Some 2.23 million travellers have dropped by the state in the first two months alone, this year.
State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said Genting Highlands remained as the most popular destination with 1.79 million visitors going to the highlands resort compared to 1.71 million visitors in the corresponding period last year.
Replying to a written question from Fong Koong Fuee (BN-Cheka), Sharkar said Fraser Hill in Raub recorded a significant percentage increase of 1.74 with some 26,000 making their way to the colonial hill station compared to 19,000 last year.
“Some 347,000 visited Kuantan, 37,443 went to Cherating, Pulau Tioman attracted 14,926 tourists, while 13,193 visitors went to Taman Negara,” he said, adding that last year, the first two months only saw 1.82 million people visiting the six destinations.
Replying to another question from Andansura Rabu (Pas-Beserah) on efforts to boost tourist arrival in Cherating, Sharkar said the state government has teamed up with various agencies to improve the facilities and infrastructures at the famous beach.
“Traditional chalet operators should make an effort to reap the benefits from the tourist arrival during Visit Pahang Year 2017 and look into ways to turn the beach into a popular destination. The beach can be become famous like Bali in Indonesia,” he said.
