Cruise Tourism Expands Market Reach For Perak Products

By Nur Afiradina Arshad

LUMUT, June 22 (Bernama) -- Cruise tourism is seen as a potential new economic driver for the local community, as the arrival of the Star Dream Cruise off Pulau Pangkor waters generates spillover benefits for traders, transport operators and tourism industry players in the Manjung-Sitiawan corridor.

Marketing manager of Moh Kee Enterprise Sdn Bhd, a swiftlet nest producer, Jess Lum, said the presence of tourists, mainly from Singapore, provides an ideal platform to promote local products and the company’s brand, which has so far been known only in the domestic market.

“Swiftlet nest is one of Malaysia’s premium products with strong demand among the Chinese community, while Singapore serves as an important hub for expanding the market to other countries due to its sizeable Chinese population.

“This is an opportunity to showcase products that represent Sitiawan and Perak. Once tourists are aware of this product, they may visit our showroom in Sitiawan for further information or to make a purchase,” he said when met at the Marina Island Jetty Complex today.

Durian seller Ling Wei Yao, 33, from Sitiawan, said the programme has created new income opportunities for small traders like him, who previously targeted only local buyers.

“Some tourists arriving at the Marina Jetty take buses and explore Manjung and Sitiawan, while others spend their time at the jetty complex, where they can enjoy durians at our premises or take them away. They may also visit our business premises in Sitiawan.

“If programmes like this are held more often, more traders can benefit and make profits, as tourists will not only get to know Malaysian durians but also local products and businesses in Sitiawan,” said Ling, who sells premium durians such as Musang King and Black Thorn, alongside coconut water and coconut-based desserts.

About 1,500 visitors from Singapore arrived at the Marina Island Jetty Complex and Pulau Pangkor today, the second such arrival since the Star Dream Cruise earlier this month, with a spillover effect expected to benefit local businesses including food and beverage, retail, handicrafts and transportation.

Meanwhile, Marina Island Group chief executive officer Ding Mei Looi said the cruise ship stopover is still in its trial phase, but the positive response from local tourists and traders shows strong potential for the sector to grow in the district.

“The experience from the first and second stopovers of this ship has helped us better understand the needs of international tourists, especially those from Singapore, who make up the majority of passengers.

“We are discovering what they want when they go ashore, as well as their preferences for enjoying local food, buying local products and visiting places that offer a Malaysian cultural experience,” she said.

According to Ding, among the plans being considered is introducing more attractions around Manjung and creating a special bazaar featuring local products for tourists to buy souvenirs and traditional foods more easily.

She said the limited six-hour stopover highlights the need for easily accessible tourist destinations that can offer visitors unique and memorable experiences.

“For this reason, we see the need to add more attractions around Manjung so that tourists can enjoy a more complete experience without having to travel far,” she said.

Pan Silver Ferry director Ling Hor, who plays a key role in facilitating tourism from the Star Dream Cruise to the jetty, said the operation of transferring passengers from cruise ships to the mainland presents a valuable opportunity to place Perak on the regional cruise tourism map.

He said cruise tourism has long been associated with destinations such as Penang, Melaka and Port Klang, but Marina Island and Pulau Pangkor now have the opportunity to emerge as new entry points for international tourists to the state.

“We hope more parties will work together to ensure facilities, immigration clearance processes and the overall tourist experience are of the highest standard, making this destination more attractive to cruise operators in the future,” he said.

The cruise tourism initiative is a collaborative effort between Tourism Perak Management Berhad, the Perak Manjung Tourism Sustainable Development Association, Marina Island and Pan Silver Ferry.

Besides visiting stalls at the jetty, tourists also explored several attractions, including Pulau Pangkor, Tua Pek Kong Temple, Hasil Laut Jamilah, a retailer of local seafood products, street art murals and AEON Seri Manjung.

--BERNAMA