Johor now a tourist magnet

JOHOR BARU: Johor's latest attractions at Nusajaya have helped triple the number of tourists to the state.


“During the current school holidays, we have seen 150 to 250 busloads of tourists coming into the state, compared to about 60 to 70 buses during the same period last year,” Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said.

He said this was due to the lure of Legoland Malaysia and the Puteri Harbour Indoor Theme Park, which houses the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and beloved children's characters such as Barney, Thomas and Friends and Pingu.

“The theme parks at Nusajaya cater to children of all ages. Parents can also join the fun. “It is no wonder that these places have become the preferred destinations for school holidays,” said Leong, adding that the retail and food and beverage sectors were also reaping the benefits from the large school holiday crowd.

Leong said there had also been a rise over the past six months of Singaporean tourists to these theme parks, the Johor Premium Outlets in Kulaijaya and other shopping complexes in the city. “Because of this, more food outlets are mushrooming,” he said, advising traders against profiteering because there had been a hike in food prices at hawker centres.

Leong said there were now more hotels opening but, he lamented, the council continued to receive complaints regarding the “old issues” of taxi drivers not using meters and slow checkpoint clearance.
-thestar online.
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