KUANTAN: Kuantan Port has the potential to emerge as the preferred cruise destination in the east coast for international liners traversing the region.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said unlike the Straits of Malacca, there are no dedicated cruise terminals along the east coast and Kuantan Port serves as the most ideal and strategic location.
"Singapore serves as the homeport of many cruise ships which travel to Port Klang Cruise Terminal, Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang, Langkawi and Phuket before returning to Singapore along the Straits of Malacca.
"On the east coast, cruise liners from Singapore will travel along the South China Sea to Bangkok and Vietnam.
"There are no cruise terminals between Singapore and Bangkok so Kuantan Port can serve the purpose if it is able to position itself as a port of call. I am confident Kuantan can be developed as a cruise ship terminal for people to visit domestic attractions.
"Kuantan Port requires some upgrading, including a passenger terminal for visitors to alight and board the cruise ships and a Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex... I proposed the cruise terminal to Kuantan Port to see how they can work towards developing the facilities," he said.
Loke said this to reporters after attending the closing of the Kuantan Port International Conference here today.
He said, if plans to turn Kuantan Port into a cruise destination becomes a reality, the Pahang government has to step up tourism promotion activities.
"During cruise ship stopovers, the passengers will disembark to visit the nearby attractions... the cruise ships might stop between 10 and 12 hours so there has to be proper planning for the visitors to spend their time.
"Tourism Pahang will have to lay out plans for an excursion for the visitors when they arrive on land which will be able to entice them to return and visit Pahang again in the future. Cruise tourism has a lot of potential and I believe if Tourism Pahang can promote the top destinations, then the cruise liners will certainly make a stopover," he said.