The Johor port authority, or LPJ, plans to turn Tanjung Belungkor ferry terminal into a main entry hub for Indonesian and Singaporean tourists to Malaysia.
Its chairman, Abdul Halim Sulaiman, said that senior officials from both authorities - LPJ and Pulau Batam, Indonesia - had held talks on the matter.
He said that Tanjung Belungkor ferry terminal has huge potential due to its strategic location near the Desaru resorts, seafood havens in Pengerang and Sungai Rengit, as well as several scenic islands near Mersing.
'These factors have been the main attraction for tourists to use the ferry terminal in Tanjung Belungkor,' he told Bernama.
He said that several boat operators have been asked to present proposals of their passenger services from Stulang Laut ferry terminal in Johor Baru to Tanjung Belungkor and other islands near Mersing.
He added that currently, Singaporeans have to endure traffic congestion at the Causeway to get to the tourist attractions on the east coast of Johor. 'The journey from Singapore to Mersing, Pengerang and Sungai Rengit takes about three hours by road.'
He is confident that the islands off Mersing would receive more tourists with the boat services provided via Tanjung Belungkor ferry terminal.
'However, to make the plan a success, LPJ said it needs the cooperation from the government agencies and firms involved in tourism,' he said.
Its chairman, Abdul Halim Sulaiman, said that senior officials from both authorities - LPJ and Pulau Batam, Indonesia - had held talks on the matter.
He said that Tanjung Belungkor ferry terminal has huge potential due to its strategic location near the Desaru resorts, seafood havens in Pengerang and Sungai Rengit, as well as several scenic islands near Mersing.
'These factors have been the main attraction for tourists to use the ferry terminal in Tanjung Belungkor,' he told Bernama.
He said that several boat operators have been asked to present proposals of their passenger services from Stulang Laut ferry terminal in Johor Baru to Tanjung Belungkor and other islands near Mersing.
He added that currently, Singaporeans have to endure traffic congestion at the Causeway to get to the tourist attractions on the east coast of Johor. 'The journey from Singapore to Mersing, Pengerang and Sungai Rengit takes about three hours by road.'
He is confident that the islands off Mersing would receive more tourists with the boat services provided via Tanjung Belungkor ferry terminal.
'However, to make the plan a success, LPJ said it needs the cooperation from the government agencies and firms involved in tourism,' he said.