KUALA TERENGGANU: The state has added some feathers in its cap as its iconic drawbridge bagged the ‘Best New Tourism Icon’ award at the Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2019 held in Selangor.
Besides that, squid catching activity, which is a popular activity and synonymous with Terengganu, emerged as ‘Most Popular Tourism Programme’, while Mimpi Perhentian Terengganu holiday resort in Perhentian Island won ‘Best Island Resort’ at the prestige event.
State Tourism, Culture and Information Technology committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said hopefully the success of Terengganu tourism in winning the awards would inspire everyone, especially travel agencies and players, to make Terengganu a destination for tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020).
He said the drawbridge’s victory was a testament to the state government's successful efforts through Tourism Terengganu in collaboration with TI Properties and tourism players in promoting the drawbridge as the main landmark.
“To date, since the implementation of entrance fee on Sept 15, the drawbridge has received 27,553 visitors.
“Various promotional activities and programs are being planned by Tourism Terengganu and TI Properties for 2020 to increase visitor arrivals to the drawbridge, such as yacht race, kite competition, the annual Tower Run, and triathlon (running, cycling and swimming across outer basin).
“These don’t include tours for media and travel agencies which are already in place and being carried out regularly. We hope with all these programmes, and restaurant opening at the drawbridge tower, more visitors will come to Terengganu,” he said in a statement today.
Ariffin received the awards from Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak on behalf of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Ariffin said a special briefing on the new Terengganu tourism icon will also be given to foreign media during Terengganu's participation in the World Travel Mart in London, the world's largest tourism programme in early November.