Terengganu aims for 4.5m tourists

MARANG: Terengganu is confident of reaching its target of 4.5 million tourist arrivals this year even though the country is still recovering from Covid-19.

State Tourism, Culture and Information Technology Committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said the target was based on the positive pattern of tourist arrivals in the state after the government allowed domestic tourism to resume during the Conditional Movement Control Order period in May.

He said since then, hotel bookings at all tourist locations, including resort islands in the state, had increased by 90 per cent on weekends and over 60 per cent on weekdays.

“Initially we targeted the influx of tourists would reach 5.4 million this year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the number was reduced to 3.8 million.

“However, after seeing the trend of tourist arrivals from May until today (Saturday), we are optimistic of reaching 4.5 million tourists by year end,” he said during the “Maghi Candat Sotong Terengganu 2020” programme at the Marang Tourism Jetty on Saturday.

Also present was Terengganu State Tourism Department director, Ab Rasid Jusoh.

Ariffin added that according to records, houseboats in Kenyir had been fully booked on weekends until December while the number of visitors to the Kenyir Elephant Village recorded a sharp increase of 400 people a day during weekends.

However, he reminded all tourists to comply with the rules and the standard operating procedures set to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections.