Pahang: The Pahang government has dismissed claims of unequal tourism promotion, stressing that efforts are in place to attract both domestic and international visitors as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. State Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said the state has received numerous inquiries from the public attributing the sluggish tourism activity in Tasik Chini, Tasik Bera, and Cherating to a lack of promotion by the government.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Leong cited Tourism Pahang data, noting that Cherating recorded 220,567 tourist arrivals last year, compared to 240,856 in 2023, while Tasik Chini welcomed 946 visitors in 2024. She stated that tourism development has not been neglected in any district, although some areas are more developed than others, which may affect their tourism sector performance.

She confidently affirmed that Cherating has not been sidelined in promotional efforts, highlighting initiatives like business-to-business engagements, MIT Pahang, brochures, and social media promotions that consistently include Cherating. She shared these remarks during the Planning for Pahang Tourism 2025 press conference, attended by Pahang Tourism general manager Kamaruddin Ibrahim.

Leong underscored that promotional efforts for Cherating target international markets as well, with participation in global tourism expos and collaborations with industry players from Europe, Singapore, and China. She acknowledged infrastructure challenges in Cherating, such as inadequate lighting and road conditions, and mentioned ongoing efforts to secure a larger budget for improvements.

Leong mentioned a long-term development plan for Cherating through the Kuantan City Council, noting that securing a substantial budget is a time-consuming process. In the short term, a site visit has been conducted to assess immediate improvements. She added that much of the beachfront being privately owned limits government-led development, but efforts are being made to address these constraints.