The Selangor State Assembly is currently in session at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor, Shah Alam. — Filepic
EXPECT more public toilets next year with added features at selected tourist attractions in the state.
This is part of the state government’s plan to boost Selangor’s tourism sector.
State tourism, environment, green technology and Orang Asli affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said cleanliness was an important factor.
“If the environment is dirty, tourists will only visit once and never return.
“That is why next year we will identify several tourist sites to build more toilets and ensure their cleanliness as well as upgrade existing ones,” he said to supplementary questions from Zakaria Hanafi (BN-Semenyih) at the Selangor State Assembly sitting in Shah Alam on the state’ government’s efforts to improve cleanliness with regard to tourism.
Replying to Elizabeth Wong (PH-Bukit Lanjan) on the allocation for tourism and plans to attract international tourists to Selangor, Hee said RM5.28mil was allocated through Tourism Selangor to develop the tourism sector as per this year’s budget.
Among plans for the next five years, Hee said, were international tourism promotional activities, preparing guidelines to instil confidence post the Covid-19 pandemic, empowering eco-tourism to draw tourists from four-season countries, improving the local food experience and use social media more in advertising.
On Dr Daroyah Alwi’s (PBM-Sementa) question about Selangor’s niche tourism sectors, Hee cited eco-tourism at Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor where tourist could enjoy watching the reflective seabed, fireflies and glamping activities.
As for agro-tourism attractions, he named Sekinchan and Tanjung Karang.
Juwairiya Zulkifli (PH-Bukit Melawati), in a supplementary question, said the RM80 entrance price per person to Sky Mirror was too expensive and asked if a more reasonable fee could be imposed on Malaysians.
To this, Hee said he has not received any complaints about the fee from locals.
Juwariya also asked if the state would help jetty operators offering tours to Sky Mirror to obtain licences as there was only one that had the permit.
Hee said they were aware of the problem and would call all jetty operators to see how they could be licensed.
“Many of the jetties are old and pose safety concerns.
“We have to come up with a standard operating procedure for jetty operations too,” he said.
