Serene coastal town: Mohd Aniq (right) and Muhammad Aiman taking wefies during their day trip to Kukup, a small fishing village in Pontian. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
PONTIAN: Idyllic? Yes. Quaint? You bet.
Kukup, a fishing village in Pontian, has often been among the top draws for harried out-of-towners seeking a respite and the flavours of small towns.
“It is a small and serene coastal town, where we can enjoy activities like cycling and walks on the jetty,” said Mohd Aniq Mohamad Fauzi, 23.
He said that he would never get tired of visiting Kukup because of its laid-back lifestyle.
“At noon, fishermen on boats will return from sea. I enjoy watching them unload their catches,” said the freelancer, who was in Kukup for a day trip from Johor Baru, just an hour’s drive away.
Mohd Aniq came with his friend Muhammad Aiman Hakeem Awazmin, also a freelancer. They had lunch at one of the seafood restaurants there.
Muhammad Aiman Hakeem, a 25-year-old from Kulai, said his favourite part of the trip was the sea breeze and affordable seafood.
“This is my first time visiting Kukup and I found it charming and quaint.
“It is a good place for people who want a quick getaway as it is less than one hour away from Johor Baru via the Sungai Pulai Bridge.
“There are also many chalets to choose from,” he said, adding that he plans to rent a place for his next family gathering soon.
Kampung Air Masin village chief Lim Thiam Hock said there are more than 80 chalets of various sizes available in Kukup, which were usually fully booked during weekends and public holidays.
“This place was packed during the Deepavali long weekend. We received visitors from all over Johor, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur as well as Singapore.
“We are happy that the local tourism sector has improved as there has been a big increase in visitors this year after the slump during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Lim said that tourists can also take a short drive to nearby attractions such as the Tanjung Piai National Park, which is the southernmost point of mainland Asia, and a Ramsar site.
(According to the Johor National Parks website, Tanjung Piai is also known as the Cape of the Golden Leather Fern. In 2003, the Tanjung Piai National Park was recognised by the Ramsar Convention as a Ramsar site, which means it is a wetland site of international importance.)
Lim said that Kukup was well-known for its affordable accommodation where a traveller could enjoy a comfortable one-night stay, complete with four meals, for less than RM200.
“It is an ideal place especially for those who want to holiday on a budget.
“Visitors can also participate in activities such as karaoke and boat rides at sea to see the mangrove forests at the Pulau Kukup National Park just a few minutes away.
“We just hope that tourists will be mindful about cleanliness. Avoid littering and refrain from discarding trash into the sea,” he added.
