KUANTAN: Pahang is targeting more than seven million domestic tourists to visit the state this year, said State Tourism, Culture, Environment, Plantation and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.

He said the state government was optimistic of achieving the target if the Movement Control Order (PKP) was not re-implemented in the country.

"Hotels and motels in the state have been found to have received bookings until April and this is a good sign for us to achieve the target and revive the state's tourism industry.

"Although tourist spots that were affected by the floods are still closed, other attractive locations such as Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, the National Parks and State Parks are open as usual and our hope is that the MCO will not be re-implemented and for all parties to adhere to the stipulated standard operating procedures (SOPs)," he added.

He said this at a press conference after the launch of the 'This Is Pahang 2022-Unlimited' and presentation of the state tourism and culture awards by Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah last night.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and the State Unity, Social Welfare, Women and Family Development Committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin.

At the ceremony, Tengku Hassanal presented 36 awards which included the Special Award for Best Tourism City to Kuantan City Council, Special Award for Tourism Activist (Uzaidi Udanis) and the "Karyawan Seni Darul Makmur " award to Roslan Madun.

Mohd Sharkar said various tourism programmes had been planned for implementation this year, including the Pahang Hiking Week and the Pahang Ocean Canoe International Challenge along the more than 240 kilometre of the state's coastline.

"For Pahang Hiking Week, we want to promote tourism as well as a healthy lifestyle where visitors can come for hill climbing in and stay at homestays or hotels nearby," he said.

On 'This Is Pahang 2022-Unlimited tourism', he said it was to promote Pahang as a state with various attractive locations and products, such as its highlands, jungles as well as beaches and attractive islands.

"Pahang recorded 13.9 million tourist arrivals in 2019, bringing a revenue of RM15 billion. This shows that Pahang is among the state with the highest tourist arrivals.

"However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism activities were halted for a while to curb the spread of the virus.We hope to revive the tourism sector this year," he added.

-- BERNAMA