PASIR MAS: Traders in Rantau Panjang town breathed a sigh of relief as the duty-free zone once again became a bustling focal point during the school holidays, reviving the so-called “cowboy town”.
A Bernama survey found a significant increase in visitors to the area, drawn not only by local residents but also by visitors from Penang, Terengganu and Pahang.
The rows of shops and food stalls were filled with people taking the opportunity to shop and enjoy the town’s lively atmosphere with their families.
Clothing vendor Farida Hassan, 36, said the long holidays were a welcome relief for her and other vendors, who otherwise struggled to attract visitors.
“If it’s not school holidays or a celebration, it’s very difficult, almost impossible, to earn around RM200 a day. However, since the school holidays began last week, I’ve been able to earn almost RM1,000 a day.
“To make up for the loss of sales during quieter periods, I also conduct online sales as an alternative,” she said when met by reporters at the Puteri Bazaar, Rantau Panjang, yesterday.
Another clothing trader, Mohd Shakirim Hafizi Mohamad Shamsuddin, 28, said the school holidays were one of the periods he looked forward to most because they allowed him to earn a higher daily income.
“During the school holiday season, sales increase significantly, and I can earn around RM600 a day. I hope this situation can be maintained even outside the long holidays. The goods in this town are much cheaper compared to other places,” he added.
Visitor Shazwani Mat Ali, 41, from Bukit Mertajam, Penang, said shopping in the duty-free zone had become an annual routine for her family whenever they returned to their hometown in Dungun, Terengganu.
“At the end of every year, our family stops here before returning to Bukit Mertajam to buy necessities for the children, including clothes, household items and food, as prices here are cheaper compared to other places,” she said.
