Branding Johor as a wondrous destination
He added that the move would also boost tourism through Xplore Johor, a state government initiative.
“As it involves the state government, we are able to collaborate with other governments around the region and bring along our industry players for business matching trips,” he added.
Tee explained that besides building friendships at government level, business matching was the way forward.
“Last year, we went to many countries, including Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam,” he said, adding that having Johor government representatives would also give the confidence to businessmen from other countries.
He added that the state’s five theme parks and 10 shopping attractions were also a hit among visitors.
The theme parks include the Legoland Malaysia, Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, Little Red Cube Fan Pekka and Angry Birds Indoor Activity Park.
Comprehensive plan
“We will support any move to have more of such theme parks in the state as it is part of our family tourism cluster in our 10-year tourism development comprehensive plan,” he explained.
Tee added that there was a need for more connecting and direct flights from major cities around the region into Senai International Airport.
He added that the present weaker ringgit was creating more opportunities for tourism industry players especially from Malaysia and Singapore to work together.
He explained that local players could work with their Singapore counterparts to come up with attractive tour packages such as a 6D/5N package to visit Singapore and Johor.
“People can also use our train services, which save time especially with the 24 trips daily between Johor and Singapore,” he said, adding that the Tebrau Shuttle was popular not just among locals, but also Singaporeans.
He added that local tour companies should come up with packages where tourists from Singapore could enter Johor Baru via the train service and have tour buses pick them up at JB Sentral, located in the heart of the city.
“This can save time and cost as tourists will not end up being stuck in traffic on the Causeway,” he said, adding that the recent nternational Kite Festival in Pasir Gudang and the annual Chingay procession, were great attractions for the locals and visitors from abroad.
“Even the Johor Ruler, Sultan Ibrahim, was impressed with the high turnout and the warm reception that he received from the people,” Tee said.
Industry players, he added, should also take advantage of the weak ringgit and come up with innovative ideas.
He said the state government was serious about developing tourism in Johor, and that was the main reason for the formulation of a tourism development comprehensive plan.
Tee added that the industry had created opportunities for many people.
They are now employed as tour guides and taxi drivers, while operators of shops, restaurants and shopping complexes are seeing more people patronising their outlets.