JERANTUT: The return of visitors to Taman Negara Kuala Tahan has brought relief to 400 ecotourism operators-- tourist guides, chalet owners and boat operators who can now revive their businesses and income, following two years of literally being in the wilderness, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taman Negara, home to a spellbinding range of tropical flora and fauna, is now bustling with life and activities with both local and foreign tourists making their way over for a getaway and short holiday during the Chinese New Year break, boosting the country's ecotourism segment.
The long weekend had enabled many to enjoy the natural beauty of the 130-million-year-old forest, apart from taking in the sights and sounds of traditional villages along Sungai Tembeling, like Kampung Pagi, Kuala Sat, Bantal and Mat Daling in Ulu Tembeling.
Pahang National Park tourist guide association chairman Anas Zainuddin said about 170 licensed tourist guides have begun bringing in visitors there.
He said that since last month, foreign tourists, from Europe in particular, have arrived in droves, allowing local nature guides to earn a decent living again. "(Over the weekend), most of the tourists were locals who came with their families and in groups, during the school holiday and Chinese New Year break.
"The return of tourists is a relief to accommodation and boat operators, tourist and nature guides, and floating restaurant operators as well as others in related fields who were adversely affected before this," he said.
Anas said most visitors bought the three- to five-day holiday package by taking part in recreational activities such as a boat ride down Sungai Tembeling and Sungai Tahan, as well as visiting Lata Berkoh and the ethnic Bateq Orang Asli village.
Tourist guide Mohd Kamil Hakim Rozali, 32, said that he and his colleagues are no longer under financial duress compared to the past two years when the Covid-19 pandemic meant their businesses were halted.
"At that time I had to plant chilli and brinjal to earn a living and put food on the table. I returned to being a nature and tourist guide when visitors started returning to Taman Negara," said Kamil, who still plants vegetables during his free time.
Tahan Guest House operator Norhasiyati Taharin said guests started coming to Kuala Tahan about a week before the Chinese New Year holidays, with many visitors making accommodation bookings early.
"They booked before the Chinese New Year holidays and even the school holidays. Some were worried of missing out if accommodations were fully booked,"
"Aside from locals, there were also many foreign tourists from Singapore and even from Europe, who came here," she said.
French tourist Christina Biondi and his wife stayed for two nights at the Tahan Guest House where they savoured the sights and sounds of Taman Negara.
"The rain did not stop us from enjoying our holidays. We filmed beautiful flora and fauna, especially all the different wild birds that could only be found in a tropical forest," he said.