DESPITE the hazy conditions in the city centre in the past two days, popular tourists spots were nevertheless abuzz with tourists and locals who were still enjoying the Hari Raya holidays.
The poor air quality around the city, did not seem to deter tourists from enjoying their sightseeing tours.
At Dataran Merdeka, flocks of visitors were seen posing for pictures and walking around the square.
Throughout the day, tours buses continued to ferry tourists to the historic site.
Outside the KL City Gallery, tourists were lining up to take pictures in front of the “I LOVE KL” sign.
“I reached here last night and I’m only stopping over for a day, so I did not want to waste my time indoors,” said Robin Harwood, a tourist from London.
“I was not expecting the haze so I did not buy any face mask, but the haze will not stop me from enjoying the city’s attractions,” he added.
First-time visitor to KL, Briton, Lauren Cole, was slightly disappointed with the hazy conditions.
“I was looking forward to going up the KL Tower, but I think I will give it a miss as I might not be able to see much.
“Since this is my first time here, I do not want to waste the opportunity to explore the city,” said Cole.
Over at KL Tower, tour bus guides and tourists were still seen buying tickets to go up to the observatory.
Dutch couple Eileen Schepen and Coen Verschuren said that the KL Tower management had informed them about the limited visibility due to the haze.
“We still went up anyway as we were already here,” said Schepen.
“We did not get to see much but this was one of the main places we wanted to visit in KL,” said Verschuren.
“I have come before and am a bit sad about the haze,” said Verschuren.
“Our next stop is Cameron Highlands and Tioman before ending our trip in Penang. We hope the weather will be fine there,” said Schepen.
Foreign worker, Firman Jaya from Indonesia, said that he would not waste his money going up the tower.
“I wanted to take my wife and child up, but I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“At least, they got to see the tower and take pictures in front of it,” said Firman.
He said he would not waste his day off and would take his family to other attractions in the city.
Meanwhile at KLCC, Central Market and Petaling Street, it was business as usual for tourists as well as the foreign workers who were in the city.
A tourist from Oman, who only wanted to be known as Abdul, who was visiting the Petronas Twin Towers said that he would carry on visiting the city’s icons.
“The haze will not spoil my holiday. My family and I are already here, it would be a waste to just stay indoors,” he said.
Over the past two days, the air quality in the city centre has been classified as unhealthy according to the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index (API).
The readings fluctuated between 123 and 134. Any reading between 100 to 200 is considered unhealthy by the department.