JERTIH: About 90% of the 80 accommodation premises on Pulau Perhentian, including homestays, resorts, chalets and hotels, have shut since late October due to rough sea conditions ahead of the Northeast Monsoon.
Pulau Perhentian Tourism Operators Association adviser Abdul Aziz Abdullah said that although the Terengganu state government had not officially announced the closure of the island, the Kuala Besut tourist jetty had been closed by the relevant authorities due to the monsoon.
He said some tourists were still visiting the island, but in much smaller numbers than during the peak season from March to October each year.
"Some homestays in the village areas of Pulau Perhentian are still operating, but not all. Most operators are taking advantage of the off-season to carry out repair and renovation work on their premises," he said here on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Abdul Aziz said one of the main challenges facing resort operators on Pulau Perhentian Besar was the lack of a 24-hour electricity supply, forcing them to rely on generators that incurred high fuel costs.
He said keeping resorts open when tourist numbers were low was not economically viable, as operators had to bear almost the same fuel costs even when only a few premises were operating.
He added that dangerous conditions at the Kuala Besut estuary due to strong waves had previously hampered tourist boat services, but the situation had improved following the completion of a breakwater there.
"Rough sea conditions do not persist throughout the monsoon season. Tourist boats, including increasingly larger passenger boats, can still use the route when conditions permit.
"If a 24-hour electricity supply were available on Pulau Perhentian Besar, operators would still have opportunities to continue operating during this season," he said.
Abdul Aziz said about 60% of the more than 80 accommodation premises on Pulau Perhentian were operated by locals, while the remainder were run by operators from outside the island, with 97% of all operators being Bumiputera.
Meanwhile, Pulau Perhentian Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chairman Nik Zawawi Mohd Nor said most island residents depended on tourism for their livelihood, through homestay operations, boat services, employment at accommodation premises and the sale of food and essential goods for tourists.
He said most homestays and shops had to close temporarily during the monsoon season, while more than 30 families chose to move temporarily to their second homes on the mainland.
Those who remained on the island turned to other activities, such as net fishing and fishing in areas outside the marine park, to meet their daily needs.
Nik Zawawi said most tourism operators and boatmen had set aside part of their earnings during the peak season to prepare for the slowdown in economic activity.
Separately, homestay operator Nur Zira Mohd Zulkifli, 24, from Kampung Pulau Perhentian, said she had closed her business since Oct 21 following the authorities' notice on the closure of the Kuala Besut tourist jetty.
She said she had instead arranged to rent out her homestay to hotel staff who needed temporary accommodation after their employer-provided quarters were closed for the monsoon season.
"Some of them have children in primary school on the island who are still attending classes before the school holidays, so they need temporary rental homes to enable their children to continue their education," she said. - Bernama
