Tourism Ministry contemplates building twin English village and cable car for Frasers Hill

RAUB: The “Little England” of Frasers Hill will have its twin village in the area as another attraction for tourists.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the British concept of picturesque surroundings with its beautiful highland flowers and landscape together with the colonial bungalows left behind by the English administrators on Bukit Fraser are among the present attractions to tourists.

Mohamed Nazri said as a place to crave peace of mind and temperatures between 17 and 24 degrees Celsius and filled with flower gardens and beautiful scenery, Bukit Fraser had been known as one of the resort’s most popular highlands in the peninsular apart from Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.

He said there would be no further excessive developments in the area including the construction for additional accommodations despite the hill which is most visited and experiencing traffic congestion at times.

“The Little England concept and atmosphere with its colonial buildings, including post offices, bungalows, police stations and hotels built by British are the attractions.

“Tourists visiting this place are not for entertainment or extreme night life. However, they are on top of Bukit Fraser to seek nature, cool atmosphere and listen to the chirpings of the wild birds and other species of migratory birds.

“However, if there is a small English village to be constructed here with the similar Little England concept portrayed, it will further attract visitors and their stays will be extended,” Mohamed Nazri said after closing the 26th International Bird Race competition recently.

Also present were Pahang Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin, state exco Datuk Shahiruddin Ab Moin, Bukit Fraser Development Corporation general manager Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Abdul Mutalib and his deputy Ishak Mokhtar.

Mohamed Nazri said the ministry too would study the suggestion to have a cable car service for easier access to the hills to reduce the traffic flow and congestion.

He said like some parts of the hillside tourists destinations in the country, travelling in cable cars would give more opportunities to the tourists to have a beautiful view of the lush green surroundings compared to travel via land vehicles.

“There will also be the impact of the economic spillover to the locals and reduce the needs of additional rooms on top of the hills because the tourists can spend their night in Raub town and during the day time, they can visit Bukit Fraser via the cable cars.

“Because we want to limit the accommodation facilities on the hills, Raub town will be the most appropriate place for accommodation,” he said, adding that locals including hotel operators and other entrepreneurs would benefit from the economic spin.

Mohamed Nazri said however, the cable car plan would only be realised after all aspect of studies including the environmental impact was conducted and agreed upon.

He said Bukit Fraser, which was at 1,524m above sea level, had innumerable plants, birds and animal species and any excessive developments would affect its rich flora and fauna.

-thestar online.