KUALA NERUS: The wet weather and strong wind failed to put a damper on the arrival of Terengganu's first New Year's Day visitors at the Sultan Mahmud Airport today.
They were welcomed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, senior officers and Tourism Terengganu officers, and were presented souvenirs to commemorate Visit Beautiful Terengganu Year.
Razif said tourism would be given priority this year as the industry provides direct benefits to the players, especially the cottage, small and medium enterprises.
“The government may invest RM1 but the return to the players is RM3. As you can see, tourism is not just about promoting the beautiful places in Terengganu but also about providing direct benefits to those who are willing to take risks in the industry.
“This year, we will go in much stronger in this sector and we will develop specific attractions for tourists. These include places, culture, tradition, arts and crafts, songket, batik and brassware. Every district will display its own unique attraction.
“Rantau Abang, for example, will be developed with replicas of the various types of turtles to invoke nostalgic feelings about the place which was once the best turtle watching spot in the country,” he said.
He said state agencies such as Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga and Yayasan Pembangunan Usahawan would be directly involved in selecting candidates for entrepreneurial training programmes tailored for the tourism industry.
Razif said the tourism industry is the best back-up for the oil and gas industry, which the state had been too dependent on to generate economic activities.
“We will be targeting about five million visitors this year despite the global economic challenges. Our targets will be Singaporeans, Australians and countries in this region,” he added.