Twin Towers Plan To Lure Tourist Ringgit

DUBAI: The Government will look into ways to turn Malaysia’s iconic Petronas Twin Towers into a lucrative tourism product.Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said it planned to unveil a package that would allow visitors to pay a reasonable sum in order to reach the skybridge without having to wait in long queues.

Currently, tourists are allowed to go up to the skybridge for a bird-eye’s view of Kuala Lumpur free of charge but that they have to wait in long queues due to the high volume of visitors. "We are planning to unveil the package where visitors can get to the skybridge minus the long waiting line but for a reasonable sum,” she said after touring the 828m-high Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest man-made structure on Friday. Dr Ng said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had asked her to lay the groundwork to turn the Twin Towers into a cash-generating tourism product. “Petronas is also receptive to the idea and we will work on it at once,” she said, adding that Internet bookings could also be introduced for visitors to the Twin Towers. “We can also add features like a visual projection of the nation’s history and culture as the visitors ride to the top of the Twin Towers in the elevators,” she said.

Dr Ng said despite the exorbitant price of RM388 for an instant visit to the Burj Khalifa and RM98 to book a visit in two days’ time, the volume of tourists to the tower was tremendous. “The idea of Burj Khalifa initially originated from Petronas Twin Towers but they have overtaken us in terms of turning the structure into a revenue-generating tourism product,” she said. Dr Ng also commended Malaysian architect Nor Shaharom Mansor, who is Emaar Properties PJSC Assistant Director, the management company for Burj Khalifa for his involvement in the project.