Raven says the state government has established a Pontian district tourism focus group discussion committee.
JOHOR is looking at having a pineapple theme park in Pekan Nanas to spur tourism in the area.
State tourism, environment, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar said based on the Johor Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023, there were various proposals to develop tourism in Pekan Nanas, Pontian.
“Among them is to construct proper entrances to the Sungai Pulai Ramsar site in Jeram Batu, the Gunung Pulai 1 and 2 waterfalls and eco-forest park as well as the connectivity centre for Johor Baru and Pontian.
“There is also a proposal to create an agro-tourism destination such as a pineapple agri-themed park in Kampung Sawah,” he said at the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar.
Raven said this in his reply to Tan Eng Meng (BN-Pekan Nanas) who asked whether there were plans to develop tourism in Pekan Nanas.
He added the theme park would not only be a new tourist attraction in Pontian but would also be a pineapple farming research centre.
The theme park would complement the pineapple museum located in nearby Pekan Nanas town.
He said among the theme park’s proposed components were a pineapple processing and product centre, agricultural farms, pineapple sales centre, pineapple maze playground, farm stays and cultural performance rooms, tourism information centre rooms, seminar and training facilities and a management office.
“However, this proposal has yet to be implemented because it requires very careful planning, especially in identifying entrepreneurs and locations, land acquisition, training and hiring employees as well as planning allocations,” he added.
Raven said the state government, through Pontian Municipal Council (MPPn), had established a Pontian district tourism focus group discussion (FGD) committee.
He added the committee was established to support and assist the Pontian district tourism action committee chaired by the Pontian district officer.
“The FGD will look into the promotion of tourism products or for locations within Pontian, in addition to updating the inventory of tourism products with stakeholders,” he said.
Raven added MPPn also promoted tourism products and destinations through digital boards at several areas including the intersection of Pontian Trade Centre, Jalan Alsagoff intersection, Empat Benut intersection, Jalan Sawah intersection, Pekan Nanas and Kukup Laut.
“In addition, the council has also prepared a Pontian tourism brochure called “Jom Pontian” which has a QR code to make it easier for tourists to visit,” he said.
