Terengganu expects four million visitors

Trying it out: Muhamed (second from left) applying wax to a batik cloth while other guests look on.

JOHOR BARU: Terengganu expects to receive about four million local and foreign tourists in conjunction with the Visit Terengganu Year 2013.

The Terengganu rural development, entrepreneurs and cooperative chairman Datuk Muhamed Awang Tera said the figure would be double from the two million tourists the state received yearly. He said the state had already recorded about 300,000 tourist arrivals as of this year and anticipated some 500,000 visitors would have visited the state by end of March.

“They are so many attractions in Terengganu that will be of interest to local and foreign tourists,” Muhamed said when met at the launch of “Teganu Kite 2013” carnival at Angsana Johor Baru Mall. Some 40 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs took part in the four-day event offering a wide range of items such as batik, songket, ready-made apparel, food products, leather goods, jewellery and tourism-related information.

Many choices: Customers choosing batik at one of the booths.

He said Singaporeans were the main foreign visitors to Terengganu followed by tourists from European countries, Japan and China. Muhamed said on the average the domestic and foreign visitors spent four days and three nights visiting the state and high on their list were the islands off Terengganu waters such as Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian.

“Lake Kenyir is also becoming popular among them as well as home stay programmes,” he said adding that among the popular homestays were in Teluk Ketapang, Setiu and Kuala Berang.

Separately, Muhamed said Terengganu’s famous keropok lekor would be made available in Malaysian restaurants in London this April following the success of free sampling of the food held last year. He said 12 tonnes of frozen keropok lekor would be exported to London monthly adding it was an achievement as the food had passed the stringent requirements imposed by the British Government.

Muhamed said the “Teganu Kite 2013” would be held in Miri, Sarawak next month and in Alor Setar, Kedah, and the date to be determined later. “The carnival is a good way to promote products by our entrepreneurs and promoting tourism attractions in our state,” he said.

-thestar online.