One of the many waterfalls in Tasik Kenyir, which is being promoted by Terengganu as a major tourist attraction and duty-free lake, is to be reserved for women tourists only.
The people handling boats going to that waterfall and the security personnel for the area would all be women, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.
This arrangement was being made in meeting a special request from women tourists from West Asia, he told reporters after launching the month-long Kenyir Festival 2014 which will be on until May 29 at Pengkalan Gawi at the lake.
Ahmad said the specially-designated area was one of the Terengganu government's efforts to promote the lake as a unique international tourist attraction.
From September next year, Tasik Kenyir will also be the first duty-free lake in the world.
Also present at the launch was the Speaker of the Terengganu State Assembly Zubir Embong and general manager of the Terengganu Tengah Development Authority(Ketengah) Wan Mat Amin Wan Daud.
Ahmad said the government had thus far spent about RM300 million to develop the lake into a tourism attraction and duty-free area.
He said projects already completed included providing electricity to the Pulau Bayas duty-free site by extending the cables a further 22 kilometres at a cost of RM33 million.
Several islands in the lake area had also been developed and work was now in progress to build the main jetty on Pulau Bayas at a cost of RM70 million.
He also said that 75 per cent of the construction of a network of shops, facilities for Indah Water Konsortium, a water tank and the Customs complex had been completed.
Ahmad said work on a new four-lane bridge which would become the main link between Pengkalan Gawi and Pulau Poh Besar would begin soon.
He said the island, which was about 40 hectares, would also get two jetties, one for passengers and another for cargo.
"We will build a hotel, a water recreation park and a 1,000-bay car park as Pengkalan Gawi does not have a large space for parking," he said.
On the Kenyir Elephant Village, Ahmad said it would be managed by the private sector and was due to open to the public on May 9.
He said the village now had nine tame elephants while there were 14 wild elephants in the surrounding area.
"We will add 21 more elephants there," he said.
Ahmad said an interesting and unique feature of the Kenyir Elephant Village would be the tree-top chalets, a suspension bridge and a perimeter lookout point.
He said the area would be very attractive with its waterfalls, and tourists who stayed in the chalets would get to see the elephants wandering in the area.
"I am confident that Tasik Kenyir can draw the tourists and become a choice tourist destination in the future," he said.
The Terengganu government, through Ketengah, is targeting about 500,000 tourists to the largest artificial lake in Southeast Asia, sprawled over 260 sq km, that has 340 man-made islands.
Last year, the lake attracted about 400,000 tourists.
Bernama
Sun May 04 2014
AHMAD SAID: This arrangement was being made in meeting a special request from women tourists from West Asia. -BERNAMA Photo
Yahya Sinwar sah dibunuh Israel - Hamas
Hamas mengesahkan Ketua Biro Politiknya, Yahya Sinwar terbunuh dalam serangan Israel.
Mohd Yusoff dilantik Ketua Polis Kelantan yang baharu
Polis Diraja Malaysia umum pertukaran empat pegawai kanan berkuat kuasa 18 Nov ini.
Bilangan warga asing di Jepun cecah rekod 3.5 juta setakat Jun
Bilangan warga asing yang menetap di Jepun mencapai rekod tertinggi lebih 3.5 juta pada separuh pertama 2024, menurut data kerajaan.
Industri perbankan sifatkan Belanjawan 2025 langkah positif ke arah ekonomi mampan, inklusif
Institusi kewangan sifatkan Belanjawan 2025 langkah positif ke arah mencapai ekonomi inklusif yang mampan di samping mengekalkan tanggungjawab fiskal dan keadilan sosial.
Pembinaan WCE beri manfaat kepada Melaka - Ketua Menteri
Laluan berkenaan bakal menjadi alternatif untuk pengguna ke Melaka selain Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan.
Belanjawan 2025: Komitmen berterusan kerajaan terhadap tanggungjawab fiskal, pertumbuhan seimbang - Khazanah
Khazanah dan syarikat-syarikat portfolionya kekal selaras dengan visi Belanjawan 2025 dan sedia menyokong agenda yang berpandangan jauh.
Belanjawan 2025: Microsoft komited bekerjasama dengan kerajaan untuk pacu inovasi AI
Microsoft komited bekerjasama dengan kerajaan untuk memacu inovasi kecerdasan buatan (AI).
Peruntukan RM65 juta dapat pastikan pekebun kecil peroleh MSPO - Johari
Peruntukan sebanyak RM65 juta menerusi Belanjawan 2025 diharapkan dapat memberi suntikan kepada lebih ramai pekebun kecil untuk mendapatkan Pensijilan Minyak Sawit Mampan Malaysia (MSPO).
Belanjawan 2025: Naik taraf prasarana, rawatan penyakit kritikal & program penjagaan kesihatan
Kementerian kesihatan menerima peruntukan sehingga RM45.3 bilion dengan fokus menaik taraf prasarana, rawatan penyakit kritikal, dan program penjagaan kesihatan.
Belanjawan 2025: Perolehan kapal baharu APMM mampu tingkat keupayaan jaga perairan negara
Pengumuman peruntukan pembelian tiga kapal baharu bagi APMM dalam Belanjawan 2025 dilihat tepat pada masanya.
Onn Hafiz ganti Khaled Nordin, Rozi Mamat ambil alih tugas Ahmad Said terajui UMNO Johor, Terengganu
Khaled Nordin dan Ahmad Said bukan lagi Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO negeri.
PRK Kemaman: 'Beri peluang calon yang betul-betul mahu berkhidmat' - Ahmad Said
Beri peluang kepada calon yang betul-betul mahu berkhidmat dan mempunyai masa secukupnya untuk Parlimen Kemaman, kata Ahmad Said.
PRK Kemaman: Jentera perlu seia-sekata pastikan kemenangan calon BN
Beliau yakin sekiranya kerjasama utuh dapat diberikan seluruh jentera, tidak mustahil BN berupaya membuat kejutan.
Ahmad Said umum tidak tanding PRK Kemaman
Pengerusi UMNO Terengganu, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said mengumumkan beliau tidak bertanding pada PRK Kemaman yang akan diadakan pada 2 Disember.
Ahmad Said dicadang calon BN PRK Kemaman
Mohamed Rahim berkata, Ketua UMNO Bahagian Kemaman itu merupakan antara nama yang mendapat sokongan untuk disenaraikan sebagai calon.
Pas tidak buat rayuan keputusan petisyen Parlimen Kemaman
Keputusan itu dibuat susulan Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Terengganu, Anselm Charles Fernandis mengesahkan terdapat unsur rasuah bagi pilihan raya Parlimen berkenaan.
[RASMI] PRN: Ahmad Said gagal pertahan DUN Kijal
Penyandang kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kijal sejak 1990, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said gagal mempertahankan kemenangan pada pilihan raya negeri (PRN) kali ini.
PRN Terengganu: Pentadbiran sealiran kerajaan pusat untungkan rakyat - Ahmad Said
Bekas Menteri Besar Terengganu itu turut meluahkan hasratnya untuk melihat negeri kelahirannya terus maju serta dibangunkan seperti waktu BN memerintah negeri tersebut.
PRN: Razali lawan Ahmad Said di Kijal
Keputusan itu sekali gus menyaksikan Razali bakal menentang Ahmad, penyandang kerusi tradisi UMNO, pada PRN Terengganu 12 Ogos ini.
Tidak mustahil UMNO kembali tawan Terengganu - Ahmad Said
Ahmad berkata, berdasarkan rekod kerajaan yang menerajui negeri tersebut ia sentiasa bersilih ganti di antara dua parti berkenaan.