THE DEVELOPMENT of Terengganu's Lake Kenyir into a duty-free area has attracted concerns from inbound tour operators. Said to be the largest man-made lake in South-east Asia, Kenyir had been recently declared a Duty Free Zone and there are plans to turn the area into a top holiday destination over the next two years. The state government will inject RM100 million (US$32.4 million) into infrastructure such as a duty-free complex, and it wants to woo investors of branded attire and other consumer products to set up outlets.
Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours' CEO Alex Lee acknowledged that the move could attract more international tourists to Kenyir, which is still relatively unknown. However, building materials used and products sold should be eco-friendly, he added. Asian Overland Services Tourism & Hospitality Group's group managing director Anthony Wong was also worried that the aim to turn Kenyir into a shopping paradise may jeopardise its natural attractions. Said Wong: “Nature is its selling point. We don’t want to turn Kenyir into a township at the expense of its natural charms. Tourists come here to see what is natural. A better place for a Duty Free Zone is in a city or town where there is already good accessibility.”
-TTG Asia.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.