KUANTAN: Tourism operators are hoping that the floods and mudflow tragedy in Bukit Tinggi Bentong would not deter tourists from visiting the Janda Baik resort area, which is located on higher ground.
A Janda Baik tourism centre operator, Wan Abd Malik Wan Hamat, 55, said he hopes people would not be afraid to choose Janda Baik as a vacation destination, especially during the school holiday beginning next week.
“As a tourism operator, I prioritise visitors’ safety. If the situation is not safe, I will tell them.
“If it rains for a few days, I will contact those who have made bookings to change their stay dates,” he added, Bernama reported.
He said it rained heavily in the area for an hour from about 5pm yesterday, but the river did not burst its banks.
Wan Abd Malik, who has been running a resort for 15 years, also hoped Malaysians would give their support to tourism stakeholders in Janda Baik, who are now looking to rebuild their businesses after the severe flooding in May last year.
A 30-year-old chalet worker, Hazrul Izmeil Idzman, also confirmed that Sunday’s heavy rain only caused a slight rise in the river level, which returned to normal after the rain stopped.
“I hope people know that activities here (Janda Baik) are continuing as usual. People also stayed at the chalets on Sunday, and picnic activities continued.
“Safety issues are important. Locals often discuss this issue, especially during uncertain weather conditions, to avoid untoward incidents,” he said.
Another resort operator, who only wanted to be known as Azizah, 52, said she often got safety information from authorities before receiving tourists.
Azizah, who owns more than five chalets, said she would also get safety tips from the police if a large group is headed to her place by bus.
“We don’t make arbitrary decisions because it is about people’s lives.
“However, if the situation is unsafe, I will tell customers not to come,” she added.
Floods hit several areas in Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik in Pahang after a downpour on Sunday evening.
In fear of a potential landslide, some 300 residents from Kampung Bukit Tinggi were evacuated following the heavy downpour.
The rain started around 6pm, and some 30 minutes later, the water level began to rise as rainwater, mixed with rocks and boulders, gushed down from the hill, according to eyewitnesses.
Bentong Public Works Department also announced via its social media feed that the FT68 route along the old Kuala Lumpur-Bentong road near the Janda Baik junction was temporarily closed to all vehicles due to a 100m-long landslide.
