Terengganu records 5.3 million tourists last year - Exco

KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb 2 -- A total of 5.3 million tourists have visited Terengganu last year.

State Tourism, Culture and Information Technology Committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said the number showed a 9.8 per cent increase compared to 4.8 million tourists recorded in 2018.

“The 9.8 per cent increase has contributed significantly to the state income. The initial target set by Terengganu Tourism Department was at 6.5 per cent, and all the efforts as well as support from all parties have been fruitful,” he said.

Ariffin said this in his speech at the Terengganu Tourism and Culture Awards presentation ceremony at Wisma Darul Iman last night.

Also present was Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

He said the drawbridge has been a crowd puller as from August to December 2019, it recorded 700,000 visitors.

Ariffin said the state government is optimistic to reach the target of 5.5 million tourist arrivals this year and has devised a strategy through the state Tourism Department to make Terengganu one of the top five destinations in Malaysia in the next five years.

He said among the initiatives undertaken were the establishment of the District Tourism Development Action Council (MTPPD) and the District Culture Council (MKD) to ensure that the tourism sector in Terengganu was always relevant to current needs.

The award presentation ceremony last night also saw Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) journalist Kamaliza Kamaruddin bagged home the Best Media  Award (Social Media Category) via her article entitled 'Terrapuri Angkat Martabat Seni Bina Terengganu'.

-- BERNAMA