KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 – Pahang has set a target of attracting 12.5 million tourist arrivals this year by offering 10 packages of its best tourism icons located throughout the state which speaking to 25 travel agents in Milan, Italy during a seminar to promote Pahang as a tourist destination.
State Tourism and Culture exco member Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said among the 10 tourism icons are Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre. The others are Kuala Lipis as a historical and heritage town, National Park, Tioman Island, Rompin for sports fishing, Pekan as a royal city and Cherating, the surfing paradise.
Sharkar said this was part of the Pahang State Tourism Department’s continuous efforts to woo tourists to the state and boost economic activities for the locals. These promotions are also in view of the Visit Pahang Year (VPY) scheduled in 2017, whereby a total of 15? ?million visitors are expected. Similar promotions held earlier in 2013 has helped increase the number of tourists to 10.6 million in 2014 from 9.4 million in 2013.
Sharkar said in a statement on Tuesday that the tourists can look forward to a calendar packed with international events such as the Surfestival in Tioman Island in January, Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race in May, Kuantan Century Ride in June, Start In Tioman (scuba diving) in August and the Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge in Rompin in September.
Besides these attractions, tourists can also savour on the delectable array of authentic cuisines and tingle their taste buds with the various fruits available in Pahang and Malaysia as a whole. Culinary adventurers can also quench their appetites with local delicacies offered at the night markets.
He added that if star gazing is what you’re looking for, then we recommend a stay at the village where you would be able to enjoy nature’s breeze apart from the dark blue skies filled with stars. Apart from these, Pahang is also a shopper’s paradise offering the latest designs in rich prints that symbolises the state’s rich heritage and culture.
Sharkar said snick knacks are plenty to take home for family and friends. He added that the offerings are crafted to suit all types of age group and preferences so that everyone has an enjoyable stay in Pahang. During the seminar, the travel agents were shown a video and later brought to a gallery to familiarise themselves with the numerous destinations and activities that were promoted by the State Tourism Department.
