SIREH Park Iskandar Puteri to Reign as Part of Johor’s Green Tourism Campaign

The 340-acre park is set to develop sustainable ecotourism areas in the state and attract nature-loving and adventurous urbanites over

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Datuk Seri Dr Santhara J.P, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture planting Meranti Johor tree or Shorea Johorensis during the Green Tourism Campaign launch at SIREH Park, Iskandar Puteri

SIREH Park in Iskandar Puteri is slated to be the latest tourism destination in Johor, this time relating to the ‘Green Tourism’ initiative.

The 343-acre recreational park offers a variety of interesting activities such as relaxation, cycling and fishing, and also the most recent activity – kayak.

Datuk Seri Dr Santhara J.P, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, stated that his department intends to enhance SIREH Park’s potential as one of Malaysia’s best green parks.

He further explained that the endeavour may be realised through the state’s “Green Tourism” initiative, which was developed to build sustainable ecotourism locations.

Datuk Seri Dr Santhara J.P, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (centre) poses for photos with (left) Johor Tourism Director, Tuan Haji Suhairi Haji Hashim and SIREH Park Advisor, Nor Hisham Hussein

“With the 340-acre park, it gives the best image and is followed by ‘urban development’ which is well-planned,” he added. 

“I’m sure this park will be just as great as the parks in European countries. We have a lot of different trees not including the birds, as well as other local wildlifes,” said Dr Santhara at a press conference after officiating the launching ceremony of “Green Tourism” at SIREH Park, Iskandar Puteri. Also present were Johor Tourism Director, Tuan Haji Suhairi Haji Hashim, Johor MOTAC Director, Magdlane Tuborng Melai, SIREH Park Advisor, Nor Hisham Hussein and SIREH Park Head of Management, Faisal Mohd Nor.

He added that the concept of Green Tourism is founded on the idea of maintaining nature’s survival by developing an environmentally friendly tourism centre.

According to Nor Hisham Hussien, SIREH Park’s advisor, the recreational park is able to offer its own distinctiveness, with one of it being the fact that it is constructed in the city area.

“SIREH Park offers more variety. For example, some recreational parks or sites may have some limitations like prohibition of camping or fishing which both are what our park’s facilities could provide for the public,” he said while adding that some fishing ponds in the park are open to the public. 

He further mentioned that one of the unique infrastructure facilities at SIREH Park is an extreme cycling track with an 8-kilometer track.

Kayaking on the 25-hectare natural lake is also a popular activity among the visitors.

He also explained that 13,000 lampam fish (tinfoil barbs) have been released into the lake in collaboration with the Fisheries Department in an effort to rehabilitate the environment in the area.