According to Johor Tourism, Environment and Heritage Committee chairman K. Raven Kumar, Johor has plans to develop Kukup as a major tourism gateway adding that it’s within the Permas Special Area Plan and the Johor State Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023.
Kukup has various tourism products that have the potential to be highlighted as international products. For example, the Pulau Kukup Johor National Park is known as the second-largest uninhabited mangrove island in the world.
“Kukup has the potential to be highlighted and developed as a major tourist destination in the state,” said Raven Kumar in response to a question at the Johor state assembly.
Earlier, Datuk Jefridin Atan, a Kukup assemblyman, inquired whether the state government intends to develop a tax-free zone near the Kukup International Ferry Terminal in order to attract more tourists.
According to Raven Kumar, a study shows that the Kukup International Ferry Terminal has the potential to be developed as a duty-free destination and one of the tourist destinations for shopping.
He stated that the impact of shopping activities, similar to the Stulang Laut International Ferry Terminal in Johor Bahru, will undoubtedly increase income and raise the level of the local economy.
Raven, who is also the Tenggaroh assemblyman, stated that Tourism Johor is attempting to establish Kukup as one of the proposed projects through the Tourism Investment Special Zone Project (STIZ) based on potential figures from the Johor State Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023.
“The STIZ, through public and private cooperation, will work together to produce a more valuable Johor tourism sector,” he said.
