Terengganu Aims At Big Time Tourism

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) — Terengganu is mounting an aggressive push to gear up its
tourism, boosted by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) tourism initiatives to target 3.5 million
tourists under its Visit Terengganu Year (VTY) 2008 campaign.
Head of Terengganus Secretariat for VTY 2008, Tengku Mohd Arifin Tengku A. Rahman, said the 3.5
million target was an increase from 2.8 million tourists seen last year, contributing RM1.47 billion to
the states economy. The state earned RM1.28 billion from tourism in 2005.
To draw in the visitors, Terengganu has lined up 25 major events this year, including the Monsoon
Cup Yacht Racing.
“We are also pitching for our own Federation of Equestrian International horse-racing event,” Mohd
Arifin added.
Another attraction will be the “Crystal Mosque”. “It is not only the first of its kind in the world, it is an
icon of Malaysia,” he said in a statement here today.
Made of crystal shine glass with steel foundation, the Crystal Mosque is part of the RM250 million
Islamic Civilisation Park developed on a 23-hectare site, under the ECER.
The state-of-the-art mosque also boasts the latest ICT facilities where sermons could be aired via the
Internet. The park which was opened on February 3, saw 700,000 visitors within six days of its
opening.
Malaysia Association of Hotels chairman Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said another
attraction of Terengganu’s tourism was the conscious effort to conserve nature, despite the
development.
Another tourist pull will be the Kuala Terengganu City Centre (KTCC) which encompasses the mouth
of Sungai Terengganu, to include Pulau Duyong and extends from the town along the coast to the
airport.
The new city centre development will see the rise of water sports amphitheatre, hotels and luxury
accommodation, waterfront residential and commercial buildings, a signature pedestrian bridge,
silverware and handicraft centre, traditional boat building yard, maritime centre, signature mosques,
integrated shopping mall and edutainment centre; cruise terminal, marina and jetty, as well as MICE
facilities.
To serve tourist growth, the Sultan Mahmud Airport which is located 15km from the town, will be
upgraded to an international aviation hub under ECER.
Costing RM123 million, the renovation of the airport will put Terengganu in the forefront as an
international gateway to the east coast.
In addition, with the East Coast Expressway which cuts short travel time between west and east
coasts, as well as along the east coast states, Terengganu is gearing itself for more tourist arrivals.
— BERNAMA