GENERATING NEW ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES FOR THE RAKYAT
Over the years, tourism has grown into a significant contributor to NCER’s economy. Key initiatives carried out in the region led to an increase in investments, as well as the number of visitors, hotel rooms and local tourist receipts.
Key INVESTMENTS
The region’s tourism sector is constantly evolving to remain compelling and relevant for visitors, which presents attractive opportunities for investors to co-create new tourism products that offer unique and memorable experiences.
Tourism projects in NCER are carried out via the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the aim of increasing the number of tourists and tourist spending through enhanced tourism products.
THESE WILL BE THE SECTOR’S KEY FOCUS AREAS
Ecotourism
The region is home to beautiful islands and lakes, as well as the Belum Temenggor Forest Reserve, one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
These abundant natural endowments offer vast potential for ecotourism that will benefit the rakyat through the creation of new job and business opportunities.
Besides Belum-Temenggor, ecotourism is being sustainably developed in other identified areas such as Kuala Gula in Perak, the Pedu-Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah, and the Nibong Tebal Mangrove Forest in Pulau Pinang.
Heritage Tourism
This tourism sub sector will leverage on the cultural and historical heritage of selected locations, allowing visitors a glimpse of past and present stories of the places and its people.
These locations include George Town in Pulau Pinang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Ipoh in Perak, a former colonial city; and the royal towns of Kuala Kangsar (Perak), Alor Setar (Kedah) and Arau (Perlis).
Archaeotourism
Archaeotourism focuses on promoting archaeological sites as tourism attractions while ensuring their conservation and preservation for the benefit of future generations.
In NCER, these sites include the Lenggong Valley in Perak, which is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Malaysia; Lembah Bujang in Kedah, and Guar Kepah in Pulau Pinang.
Geotourism
NCER’s rich natural endowments also include spectacular geoparks such as the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark, Jerai National Geopark, Kinta Valley National Geopark and Perlis Geopark.
Geotourism initiatives in the region will focus on connecting the world-class geoparks and geosite products within the four states. This strategy will capitalise on Pulau Pinang and Langkawi as the main gateways to attract visitors to other tourist destinations within the region.
Niche Tourism
NCER is also focusing on niche tourism fields such as medical tourism, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), agrotourism and halal tourism to cater to specific needs and demands of visitors.
Malaysia is recognised as a top medical tourism destination by International Medical Travel Journal and NCER has earmarked Pulau Pinang as the leading medical hub of the country.
