KUANTAN: The state government, for the first time, will host tourism roadshows at two major cities in India this week to attract more travellers from the country to the east coast state. The roadshows, which would showcase Pahang's rich cultural heritage, pristine rainforests and diverse attractions, will be held in New Delhi tomorrow and in Chennai on Sept 26. State Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said the programmes would focus on business-to-business networking involving India-based travel agents, tourism operators, airlines and media partners.

"The roadshows aim to strengthen strategic cooperation between the tourism industries of Pahang and India, creating opportunities for the arrival of more visitors through well-structured holiday packages. "We want to position Pahang as a must-visit destination for Indian travellers in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, while reinforcing the state's image as 'The Heart of Malaysia'," she said in a statement today. Leong said the initiative went beyond promoting tourism, as it would also help build connectivity, strengthen cooperation and share Pahang's unique stories with the people of India.  She said that the programme would also highlight the state as a preferred destination for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice), weddings and honeymoons, sporting events and niche tourism tailored to specific interests.

Iconic tourist attractions to be showcased included Fraser's Hill, Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands as highland retreats; Cherating and Pulau Tioman as exotic beach destinations; Taman Negara National Park, one of the world's oldest rainforests; and the newly introduced rail tourism.

Source - NST

KUANTAN: The Pahang state government continues to strengthen its tourism sector through Tourism Pahang’s upcoming 2025 promotion roadshow in India. This roadshow will take place in two major Indian cities, with New Delhi scheduled for September 24 and Chennai for September 26.

The event will focus on Business-to-Business networking involving travel agents, tour operators and airlines from both countries. Tourism Pahang stated that the main objective is to strengthen strategic cooperation between tourism industry players in Pahang and India. The roadshow aims to create opportunities for more attractive and well-packaged holiday offerings for Indian tourists. Among the iconic tourism products to be showcased are highland getaways in Fraser’s Hill, Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands. The promotion will also feature exotic beaches such as Cherating and Tioman Island, along with the unique 130 million-year-old Taman Negara.

Pahang aims to position itself as the preferred destination for Indian tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.This initiative reinforces the state’s status as ‘The Heart of Malaysia’ within the international tourism market. – Bernama

KUANTAN: The Pahang government plans to make the Pahang International Green Eye Squid Hunting Competition an annual event, following the success of its inaugural edition.

State Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said the competition, which attracted 105 anglers from across the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, also drew four participants from Japan.

"History was created in Pahang with the hosting of the international squid jigging competition at Shahbandar Jetty here. We aim to establish the Pahang International Green Eye Squid Hunting Competition as an iconic annual event on the state's tourism calendar, while putting Kuantan on the international maritime tourism map," she said in a statement.

She added that besides promoting squid jigging as a recreational and tourism activity, the competition also creates economic opportunities for the local community, including fishermen, boat operators, small traders, and tourism service providers. 

The two-day event, held last month, was organised by the Darul Makmur Fishing and Recreation Association with support from Tourism Pahang.

Leong said the Green Eye squid is known for its unique challenges and high commercial value. "It is distinguished by its striking, colourful body patterns, making it easily recognisable among other marine species, but remains difficult to catch even for experienced anglers," she said. 

The squid hunting competition has the potential to become as popular as the Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge, the country's premier fishing event held annually in the waters off Kuala Rompin.

Leong said Pahang is renowned for the beauty of its 210km coastline, stretching from Kuantan to Rompin, which makes it a highly promising maritime tourism destination. Rompin is internationally recognised as a prime location for sailfish fishing, attracting anglers from both within the country and abroad.

Source - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Pulau Tioman, Pahang, continue to face an enduring dilemma due to the absence of a commercial airport, relying solely on ferry and speedboat services for transportation. Although there is a small airport in Kampung Tekek, its dependency on light aircraft with limited flight schedules poses a serious challenge for both tourist arrivals and the movement of locals, Utusan Malaysia reported.

Tioman Airport, located next to Kampung Tekek, began operations in the late 1980s. It was designed as a short take-off and landing (STOL) airport suitable only for small aircraft, as the runway measures just 992 metres long. Due to the hilly terrain at the southern end of the island, planes can only land from the north, making landings particularly challenging. 

In the early 2000s, the airport handled over 50,000 passengers annually, but this number dropped drastically after 2014. It was reported that since October 2023, there have been no scheduled flights bringing in tourists, although staff are still stationed at the facility.  Because of this, a resident of Kampung Juara, who wished to be identified only as Ali Daud, 40, told Utusan Malaysia that despite its natural beauty and tourist appeal, Pulau Tioman still struggles with issues of accessibility and sustainable development.

He said the proposal to build a new airport,which has been discussed previously, must be revisited after being stalled for more than two decades. "Around 6.47 hectares of land at a cape between Kampung Paya and Kampung Genting was already acquired by the government around 2002 to 2003," he said. Ali acknowledged that some locals, especially from Kampung Paya and Kampung Genting, were against the idea, mainly due to long-held negative perceptions. "The new airport isn't just for tourists, it's about creating job opportunities for locals. If not now, then when?

"This isn't just for us. We want to see Tioman develop like other places. "I've been working as a boat operator and tourist guide since I was 18. The proposed site for the new airport doesn't have coral reefs, so it's not a diving spot. "An airport isn't just a physical structure; it's a symbol of transformation. With better accessibility, Tioman can compete as a world-class tourism destination while preserving its identity and cultural heritage." Source - NST