THE mammoth Desaru Coast project in Johor is pivotal in positioning Malaysia as an international leisure and business destination hub.
There is already an influx of foreign visitors with the opening of The Els Club Desaru Coast with two distinct clubs — Ocean Course, a 27-hole golf course designed by Ernie Els, and Valley Course, an 18-hole golf course designed in collaboration with Els’ long-standing friend and major champion, Vijay Singh.
The Ocean Course opened in September last year and the Valley Course in March this year.
Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd executive director and chief executive officer Muhammad Zainal Ashikin Muhammad Rejab said the unique propositions of Desaru Coast were that it catered to holidaymakers, families, couples, golfers and the corporate sector.
He said the key target markets currently resided within the Asia Pacific region, namely Singapore, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan and South Korea, in addition to longer-haul international visitors.
Spanning 1,578ha along 17km of pristine beachfront land, Desaru Coast will include international hotels and resorts, a conference centre, 27- and 18-hole golf courses, a themed water park and a retail village.
The project is being developed by Desaru Development Holdings One, a subsidiary of Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels Sdn Bhd, which in turn is a unit of Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
Zainal said the project would create a multiplier effect on the local economy by creating 4,000 jobs.
“We will be opening the other components of Desaru Coast in stages through 2019,” said Zainal.
FUTURE OPENINGS INCLUDE:
• The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
Located in the hub of Desaru Coast, the 275-room key five-star resort will be operated by Marriott International.
• Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
The resort, under the international brand of Anantara Hotels and Resorts, is a 123-key luxury family-riented resort with direct access to the beach within close proximity to the Desaru Coast Riverside and the world-class golf course, The Els Club Desaru Coast Ocean Course.
• Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
Conveniently located adjacent to Desaru Coast Adventure Water Park, the 365-room key hotel promises unique Hard Rock “rockstar” treatment for both holidaymakers and business travellers alike.
• Desaru Coast Riverside
The 20.5ha waterfront landscaped retail and lifestyle village offers retail, restaurants, cafes and entertainment outlets.
• Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark
The waterpark, set against the backdrop of a local fishing village, is one of the world’s biggest.
• Desaru Coast Conference Centre
The conference centre is a fully-equipped multi-purpose venue with a banquet area and exhibition space that can host up to 1,000 participants.