Mersing needs more access to boost tourism

Overall view: Abdul Ghani (centre) being briefed by Radiant Starfish Development Bhd president and CEO Ungku Safian Abdullah (left) on the Mersing Laguna project.

JOHOR BARU: There are several options to improve connectivity and accessibility to Mersing in order to boost the tourism sector in the district. Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said one of the options is to extend the East Coast highway that connects Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan to Mersing.

He added that other projects include the construction a new coastal road linking Johor Baru to Mersing and upgrading the existing Ayer Hitam-Kluang road until Mersing. “We’ll forward the proposals to the Federal government for further action and financial allocation for the projects,” said Abdul Ghani. He said this after witnessing the signing of agreements between Radiant Starfish Development Bhd and five working partners to develop Mersing Laguna.

The RM22bil eco-tourism project would be developed over seven years on three new islands off the coast of Mersing town on 809.37ha (2,000 acres) of reclaimed land. It is one of the nine projects announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Feb 28, under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) covering Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Mersing.

Upon completion, the development would have 22 five-storey hotels with 3,000 rooms, 4,000 villas and serviced apartments, marina facilities, commercial properties and a theme park. “The development will bring long term economic benefits to the district and locals will definitely gain from it directly and indirectly,” added the Mentri Besar. Mersing town in the north east of Johor is the popular gateway for holiday makers visiting a group of 40 islands in the east coast of Johor within the Seribuat Archipelago.

Among the popular islands with local and foreign tourists are Pulau Tengah, Pulai Sibu, Pulau Rawa as well as Pulau Tioman in Pahang. The town is also the main ecotourism gateway to the 200 million years old Endau-Rompin National Park towards the west and Mersing receives between 500,000 and 600,000 tourists yearly.-thestar online.