BENTONG: Residents in Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands are cautiously optimistic that mega developments can boost tourism and economic activity, but concerns about traffic linger. Restaurant operator and Gohtong Jaya resident Desmond Leong, 33, said Genting Highlands was starting to resemble a small city.
"In the last three to five years, we have seen constant growth. We believe the local council is doing a good job of monitoring these projects. "We are not overly worried, as they must follow council guidelines," he told the New Straits Times. Leong, however, called on developers to improve road capacity, saying there were frequent congestions on weekends. "Every weekend, there are traffic jams. If vehicle volume increases, the two-lane roads from Genting Sempah to Gohtong Jaya will be overwhelmed." Sam, a restaurant manager in Gohtong Jaya, said he was not too bothered about the projects. The 23-year-old said initially, there were concerns about increased competition once the projects are completed.
"The upside is that residents and visitors will have more choices. We hope to see an influx of tourists into our restaurant. "Overall, we are fine with the development, but we have to wait and see the results once everything is finished." Business owner Thang Shen Haw, 33, said he hoped the developments will benefit locals. "We have had a slight drop in tourists, but we are optimistic that the projects will include recreational activities to attract visitors. "We aren't sure if more hotels or residences are needed since there are already quite a number here. But we hope these projects will boost the local economy." Restaurant operator and Genting Permai resident Norihan Abdullah, 51, also welcomed the developments. "We get a lot of visitors on public holidays. I think the new developments will bring even more people on weekends." However, she said, developers should consider alternative routes to ease traffic around project sites. Hafisha Husna Asri, 18, a resident and restaurant worker, said safety measures must be strictly enforced, especially for hillside developments. "We are a bit worried about safety because of the sheer scale of development taking place."
She added that the projects could boost Genting Highlands' appeal. "More people coming here will stimulate our economy and provide more activities for visitors." In Cameron Highlands, stakeholders remain largely unperturbed by the development. Tanah Rata resident Hana Nabilah Azman, 36, said there has been a noticeable increase in investors over the past five years. "It has become a trend among visitors, particularly those from outside Pahang, who grow fond of the weather and surroundings and eventually decide to invest. "They buy vacation homes, and some choose to settle here after retirement. "Demand for such units has prompted developers to introduce mixed-development projects, including high-end offerings," she said. "Having grown up here, I have witnessed these changes firsthand." Hana said tourism-driven developments have impacted locals during peak periods. "Not only are tourist spots crowded, but apartment units are also filled with visitors, leading to parking issues. "Residents who bought these units often find the situation uncomfortable." Cameron Highlands Golf and Villa Residents' Association president P. Seluam said development along main roads has worsened congestion.
"A better approach would be to locate projects at least 5km away from the main roads. This could ease traffic and reduce bottlenecks, especially during peak tourist seasons. "Traffic could then be dispersed across multiple access points instead of being channelled into a single congested route, which is often worsened by tourist stopovers. "Creating alternative routes and diversions would improve overall connectivity." He said weekend and holiday congestion can stretch up to 30km from Tanah Rata towards Blue Valley and Simpang Pulai, turning a 45-minute journey into a four-hour ordeal. Tanah Rata travel agent B. Ravisankar said many new apartments are being purchased as investments. "This trend is performing well due to strong demand. Local investors are playing a major role in buying properties, as the steady influx of domestic tourists continues to support occupancy rates," he said. Ravisankar added that Tanah Rata and Brinchang need better infrastructure, including parking and public transport, as these areas develop and their populations grow.
Source: NST
