Mersing Enduro Challenge to have more routes. — Courtesy photo
Mersing District Office has outlined eight key initiatives to strengthen its position as a tourism district of Johor, aligning with the Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY 2026) agenda.
Mersing district officer Jamil Hasni Abdullah said this focus was based on the district’s primary sources of income, fishing and tourism.
He said attractions such as stargazing at Pulau Mawar and the Mersing Enduro Challenge at Bukit Selantai, Pantai Air Papan, were already beginning to draw their own enthusiasts.
“We need more tourism products, but at the same time, we will strengthen the ones we already have.
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“For example, we plan to introduce more categories and additional routes for the Mersing Enduro Challenge,” he said.
The key initiatives are tourism routes, tourism infrastructure, cleanliness, safety, heritage and culture, small and medium-sized enterprise products, tourism programmes as well as tourism promotions.
“We want to ensure that all land and sea routes in Mersing are safe and well-maintained.
“The Public Works Department must ensure that our roads are free of potholes, while the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) must address tourism areas threatened by beach erosion.
Jamil Hasni says there are plans to introduce more categories for Mersing Enduro Challenge.
“For example, the Sungai Mersing riverbank near Mersing jetty needs a seawall – each year, we incur significant expenses just to dredge the river so that boats can continue to pass through,” explained Jamil Hasni.
He said the district office was also planning to improve tourism signage and amenities in the district and expressed hope that visitors and the public would cooperate by keeping the place clean.
“We organise an annual beach cleanup after the monsoon season when rubbish is washed ashore.
“In addition to Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp), we have involved government agencies and non-governmental organisations in this cleanup effort,” he added.
The district office would also ensure that all diving operators adhere to safety regulations, said Jamil Hasni.
“Our main concern at the moment is the cattle farmers who leave their cows unattended; this poses a safety risk to road users.
“We are planning to take stern action against these farmers,” he said.
He highlighted some local products that the district planned to promote, including Zapin Tenglu, Zapin Pulau, Laksa Pulau, otak-otak Mersing, nasi dagang, sata and keropok lekor.
“We have also introduced the Mersing Tourism Operating System (MeTOS), where travellers can find information and book their stays in Mersing.
“At the same time, we have requested RM3mil from Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to upgrade old and abandoned chalets in Penyabong.
“Some businesses were forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic, so we hope to use this fund to help them restart their operations,” he said. — By REMAR NORDIN
