Sepang hopes to draw five million tourists

MPSepang team and guests posing with ‘Atan’, the Visit Sepang 2020 mascot,

at the launch of the campaign. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star

SEPANG Municipal Council (MPSepang) is prepared to pull out all stops to make Visit Sepang 2020 a success.

In conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020 and as a precursor to Visit Selangor 2021, Sepang hopes to see a boost in tourism this year through its efforts.

MPSepang president Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yati said Sepang, as gateway to the country through Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2, had the potential to attract local and foreign tourists.

“Our motto, ‘Sepang gerbang negara’, is apt given its location as gateway to Malaysia. Our aim is to make Sepang a destination of choice in Selangor.

“MPSepang is targeting five million tourists for year 2020, consisting of 80% local tourists and 20% foreign tourists, ” he said at the launch of Visit Sepang 2020.

Mohd Fauzi also spoke about various attractions in Sepang that may appeal to tourists, including the Bagan Lalang beach, five-star hotels as well as the availability of local dragonfruit.

There will be monthly activities and events throughout the year. Information on the activities as well as transportation can be found on the Visit Sepang app.

The enthusiasm of the MPSepang team was apparent from their attire — they were all wearing the “I love Sepang” T-shirts.

“Seeing everyone in the ‘I love Sepang’ T-shirt and knowing that all of us truly love Sepang, I am confident that we can put Sepang on the map, ” said Mohd Fauzi.

Selangor culture, tourism, Malay customs and heritage committee chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, who was escorted by MPSepang motorcycle club convoy to launch the event at Cyberjaya, said tourism was one of the main sectors contributing to the country’s economic growth.

“To increase synergy, let’s all work together to be good hosts to visitors, both local and foreign.

“To gain the trust and confidence of tourists, we need to consistently provide services of the highest quality, ” he added.

Abdul Rashid said with the targeted number of tourists, it was estimated that Visit Sepang 2020 would generate a revenue of RM5bil.

As part of the Visit Sepang 2020 initiative, MPSepang also promoted “zero 

waste” through proper waste management to ensure Sepang becomes a popular and clean tourist destination.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to various partners and stakeholders who came together to make Visit Sepang 2020 a success, including Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Sepang International Circuit and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).

The Visit Sepang 2020 mascot, “Atan”, also made an appearance at the launch.

Guests were also treated to dance performances and a rendition of Visit Sepang Year 2020 official song featuring singer Datuk Hattan at the event.

-thestar online.

Idea-filled year for Sepang tourism

French tourists pose with Mah Meri dancers from Bukit Bangkung and the Visit Sepang Year 2020 mascot at the official launch of the tourism event by Sepang Municipal Council.

Seven-year-old Malaysian ice skater Sree Abiraame Chendren unwittingly became the topic of discussion at the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) full board meeting in November.

It was proposed that she should be a candidate for tourism ambassador for the Visit Sepang Year 2020 (VSY2020) promotional campaign.

That her father Chendren Balakrishnan, who is special officer to Tanjung Sepat assemblyman Borhan Aman Shah, had distributed VSY2020 flyers at all his daughter’s competitions in Beijing, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, was also a plus factor.

There is no official decision on this yet but as recognition for her skating achievements, MPSepang presented her with a RM1,000 cheque and RM2,000 in sponsorship fees for her event costumes and tracksuits in December.

An adorable brown mascot also became the subject of debate at an earlier council full board meeting when it was brought up that “Atan”, its chosen name, also meant female donkey in the Arabic language.

However, as its moniker was a common, easily remembered handle for many locals, the council stuck to its decision.

2019 was a busy year for Sepang as it went about preparing for VSY2020.

To kick-start the campaign, a 50-strong superbike convoy headed by MPSepang deputy president Muhammad Hafiz Shaari travelled 1,000km and visited nine local councils to distribute flyers in January.

It was a gruelling trip and health department director Kuzaini Hamidon had to finish the remaining legs of the tour in a van after coming down with fever.

Another stunt followed in the form of a 30-strong team up Mount Kinabalu to fly the VSY2020 flag eight months later.

Meanwhile, ideas poured in as to what could be offered as tourist draws.

The river cruises in Sungai Sepang and vast intertidal zones of Bagan Lalang beach which are already a favourite destination for anglers and picnickers were touted as star attractions.

A secluded spot near runway 32L of Kuala Lumpur International Airport was named as a hangout spot for aerophiles by like-minded councillor Hazimun Rahmat Mohammad, who suggested a recreation area be set up here during an urban beautification meeting.

Malaysia Airports responded by building an elevated deck sturdy enough to accommodate 40 people at one time.

The quaint town of Sungai Pelek made it to the tourism promotion list too.

A grand century-old bungalow in Ladang Teluk Merbau that was featured in Planter’s Tales, a book on plantation life by Mahbob Abdullah, and a ferry service behind Taman Ria, which takes motorcyclists and pedestrians across Sungai Sepang to Bukit Pelanduk in Seremban, were named as must-visit spots.

Because of the tourism drive, the name of late farmer, Hashim Pardi from Kampung Labu Lanjut, would forever be remembered by future generations as “Hashim Bom”.

Visitors can seek out village chief Damarulan Hassim for an oral history of how Hashim found an unexploded bomb believed to be left behind by Japanese forces during World War 2.

The element of suspense lies in how Hashim had thought nothing of carrying a bomb home with his bare hands. It was believed that the danger of the thing exploding did not cross his mind until alerted by a fellow villager.

On safety concerns over the many boats offering sightseeing tours in Sungai Sepang not having licences, MPSepang Corporate Unit and Public Relations director Norrehan Amat Kasman said through ongoing efforts with the Marine Department, six operators, all based at Jetty Sirip Biru in Bagan Lalang, were now authorised to carry passengers.

However, boat operators and fishermen have reasoned if the authorities want to collect fees, they must do their part to preserve the river.

In May, Kampung Tanjung Mas Batu Dua jetty operator Mashud Rosdi alerted StarMetro of the presence of algal bloom in Sungai Sepang.

Negri Sembilan Environmental Department (DOE) director Norhazni Mat Sari attributed it to waste discharged by animal farms upstream.

State Veterinary Services Regulatory Department head Dr Fahmi Ridza Mohamad Noor then said discussions were ongoing on possible solutions and as

it involved many agencies, it would take time.

A recent check revealed the situation at the jetty had not improved.

The fishing community, however, is looking forward to better fish hauls in the coming future with artificial reefs installed some two nautical miles off the Sungai Mesok Jetty at Kampung Batu Laut in Tanjung Sepat in October.

This is the fourth installation of artificial reefs in the area. The first two were in 2006 and 2008, involving 34 units. Another 19 units were introduced last year.

This year saw an additional 14 units and all were submerged in the same area. The total cost of the project for 2018 and 2019 was RM600,000.

Meanwhile, Tryke, an e-scooter ride sharing company that launched its service in Cyberjaya in November has finally been issued a licence by MPSepang to operate in the area.

Norrehan said approval was granted based on an established docking base system that encourages users from leaving the vehicle outside of its designated parking space, failing which, they will continue to be charged on a per minute basis.

-thestar online.

Sepang council goes full swing in tourism drive

Amirudin (left) trying the dragon fruit juice at the launch of Visit Sepang Year 2020

as orchard owner Lee Chee Wei looks on

DRAGON fruits, the beach at Bagan Lalang and the opportunity to experience local culture though homestay packages have been marked as tourist draws at the Visit Sepang Year (VSY) 2020 promotions in KL International Airport.

The two-day exhibition at KLIA featured live performances by popular singer Noraniza Idris, Mah Meri dancers who got the audience to join them on stage and a launch ceremony officiated by Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari.

This came after a 50-strong superbike convoy across nine towns and districts led by Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) deputy president Muhammad Hafiz Shaari followed by participation at the Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin trade fair.

With just another six months to go till VSY2020, MPSepang is ramping up promotional efforts to draw tourist ringgit to the town and meet its expected target revenue of RM5bil.

By rough estimates, this will translate to local service providers and vendors having to convince each of the expected five million tourists to spend about RM1,000 each when they come here.

To ensure visitors are left with nothing but good impressions and experiences of Sepang, MPSepang president Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said the council was in the midst of upgrading the town’s infrastructure and landscaping.

“We have a beautiful environment but it will need constant care and maintenance.

“Further developments must also complement the existing surroundings. As such, we seek the cooperation and full commitment of all government agencies and private entities to ensure the success of this mission,” he said.

Voicing his support, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said the airport operator group had been actively promoting tourism in Selangor through its “Joyful Malaysia” programme at KLIA and KLIA2 since last year.

“We recorded the arrival of some 60 million passengers last year. As such, the collaboration with MPSepang will have a positive impact in tourist numbers,” he said.

One potential market that can be tapped by tourism service providers is transit passengers who can benefit from short excursion packages.

“Typically transiting passengers would not stay in KLIA any longer than three or four hours.

“However, the travelling public nowadays are more savvy in their search for the best deals and they may buy separate tickets which can be cheaper at times than buying a through-journey ticket. In such cases, the transit time can be longer than usual. Some of the connections can even go above 24 hours,” said Raja Azmi.

He said those transiting in KLIA were typically on long-haul journeys from Europe or Australia to Asean destinations.

At the launch, Amirudin said Selangor was ready to cooperate with several entrepreneurial agencies to help increase the potential of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Sepang district.

“Although SME entrepreneurs in the district have received continuous assistance from Hijrah Selangor (a microcredit programme), it is still on a very small scale.

“If we are able to collaborate with agencies like Majlis Amanah Rakyat, I believe these enterprises will be able to increase their business potential,” said Amirudin, referring to makers of crisps and other snacks the district offered as tourist products.

-thestar online.