KUALA LUMPUR: Taking full advantage of the Christmas break and the long school holidays, crowds are flocking to popular and iconic locations around the federal capital, causing a slight increase in traffic on certain roads.
A check by Bernama found that tourist attractions such as the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, Zoo Negara, KLCC, and the Kuala Lumpur Tower were thronged by people taking leisurely stroll with their children since early morning, and the numbers are expected to increase as the evening approaches.
Several major shopping centres and business areas, such as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, are also packed with visitors who do not want to miss the opportunity to shop at promotional prices during the year-end sales.
The same situation is observed at rail service stations which appear crowded with people, especially the younger generation who find it more convenient to use public transportation to move from one destination to another.
Mazri Ishak, 33, from Muar, Johor, said he chose to go for a vacation in the federal capital with his wife and children to take them to places such as Zoo Negara and the National Planetarium.
"While visiting relatives in the Klang Valley, we took the opportunity to bring the children to interesting places that could provide them with knowledge, such as the National Planetarium.
"I also took the family on a double-decker bus, the KL Hop-On Hop-Off, to explore the beauty of the city centre at night," said Mazri Ishak, a teacher.
Meanwhile, a restaurant operator, Amru Ishak, 40, from Ampang, said he took the opportunity to visit the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park with his children after his restaurant received fewer visitors compared to other days.
"I decided to come here yesterday after seeing a decline in customers at the restaurant since yesterday, perhaps because many have left Kuala Lumpur for vacations or to return to their hometowns.
"So, even if it's just a brief excursion within the Klang Valley, it's enough to dispel my children's boredom," he said.
Meanwhile, e-hailing driver Mohd Azril Ahmad, 38, acknowledged that user bookings for such services around the federal capital have doubled the usual.
"During long public holidays, an estimate for e-hailing drivers can be between 25 to 30 trips a day, with gross commissions reaching up to RM500 a day.
"Despite the relatively high cost of e-hailing due to the high demand currently, customers prefer its convenience over parking hassles or transfers to other public transportation," he said. – BERNAMA