IPOH – The Perak government has instructed local authorities to continue with risk assessments of tourist sites, and to issue orders of temporary closure during prevailing bad weather.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching said that the matter was decided at her recent meeting with the tourism portfolio and local authorities.
“The local authorities are more knowledgeable, so they will check which tourist spots are deemed high-risk with slopes, water surges, and so on. A warning and temporary closure notice will be issued once the authority has completed its risk (safety) assessment,” she said.
According to her, the move is in line with the recent directive issued by the Local Government Development Ministry that all camping sites near rivers and high-risk locations nationwide be closed for seven days with immediate effect, following the December 16 landslide tragedy on Jalan Batang Kali-Genting Highlands.
Among the tourist spots involved in the temporary closure in the state were reportedly the popular Bukit Larut Resort and Burmese Pool in Taiping, which were closed to visitors until December 23.
Meanwhile, Riverside Camp operator Mohd Hasrol Kamis @ Mahmad, 39, said that, following the Batang Kali landslide tragedy, there was a 70% drop in visitors, affecting his business which has been running since 2014.
“This matter has affected our income too. Outdoor enthusiasts of camping and water rafting are furtively enquiring about the status of our licence over the phone before making any reservations.
“As the operator of a camping centre, though we were not given any information on any licence required from the local authority, we did comply with the order to close for seven days,” he said.
Elsewhere, chairman of Inap Desa Gopeng, Noradidah Mokhtar, 57, said that they have complied with the previous one-week closure order for safety's sake, but since then demand is back and rising.
“In Gopeng, there are many extreme sports centres, such as water rafting, kayaking, and jungle trekking, along with homestays. However, we cancelled bookings during the period of the closure order,” Noradidah said.
The December 16 landslide tragedy at the Father's Organic Farm campsite, Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali, claimed 31 lives with 61 people rescued out of a total of 92 victims involved. – Bernama, December 30, 2022
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