Do more to ‘sell’ Putrajaya

Although Putrajaya has scenic bridges and parks which makes it a popular filming location for local and foreign movies, it needs more than that to make it a major tourist destination. One should be able to spend at least a day there sight-seeing and doing other worthwhile activities. For shopaholics, the only shopping mall is Alamanda Putrajaya. Those who like nature and the outdoors can explore the Botanical Park, Putra Perdana Park, Wawasan Park, Taman Rimba Alam and Taman Wetlands.

More information needed: The new tourist information centre in Dataran Putra does not have ample supply of brochures.

Now, visitors go to Putrajaya during events such as water sports competitions and the recently held Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. But if Putrajaya were to be a tourist destination, there should be visitors on other days as well. From the Putrajaya Corporation website, one could see there are quite a few events every month such as an agro bazaar and workshops but the point is are these enough to draw the crowd?

The tourist information centre has relocated from the parking lot in front of the Prime Minister’s Department to Dataran Putra in Precinct 1. This relocation is apt as it is now situated near the Putra Mosque where tourists throng. However, only a few brochures in English and Chinese are available at the new information centre at Dataran Putra. When asked for other brochures, I was told it was taken by the many tourists who visited the centre. This should not be an excuse as there should be enough to cater to visitors.

There should also be brochures in other languages such as Arabic, Japanese and Korean. It pales in comparison to information centres in Japan and South Korea where plenty of brochures are available with information on must-see places and the recommended routes to take. There should also be public transport with punctual schedules for people to get from one tourist attraction to another.

While there are signboards directing motorists, some could lead you on a longer route. My colleague who wanted to go to one of the government complexes in Precinct 1 found it confusing and ended up driving around the place a few times. Many are not familiar with the Federal Government Administrative Centre. The moment I mention I work in Putrajaya, my peers would exclaim, “Wow, that is far away!”

That is the perception of many about Putrajaya. It seems far away from the city centre and a hassle to travel there. It takes 20 to 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur city centre via the Maju Expressway (MEX), 15 to 20 minutes from Kajang via the Silk Kajang Expressway (SKVE) and 20 to 30 minutes from Subang Jaya via the Damansara-Puchong Highway to Putrajaya. Given it is less congested than the KL city centre, it takes less time for me to get there than to travel around KL during peak hours.

But its distance from KL is not the main reason some are reluctant to make their way there. I know some Klang Valley residents who would drive all the way to Port Dickson or Genting Highlands for a domestic getaway or just for a day tour. Existing places of interests should be promoted and new activities should be developed to draw visitors and mark Putrajaya as a must-see place when visiting Malaysia. Being a planned city gives it an edge and coupled with natural landscapes and green areas, Putrajaya does have a potential in becoming a tourist destination. The question lies in whether there is enough effort put in to make it a tourist destination in the long run and not a flash in the pan.

-thestar online.