The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) obtained RM50 million from the Ministry of Finance for infrastructure improvement in areas with rural tourism potential.

 KPKT Minister,Zuraida Kamaruddin said rural tourism could be preferred destinations for local and international tourists, not just for local tourists.

 “The RM50 million is a special budget to repair or upgrade small-town tourism areas which are under the jurisdiction of local governments such as Gerik and Lenggong in Perak, and Umbai, Melaka. These areas have several tourism products or jetties operated by young entrepreneurs who take tourists for boat rides along the rivers. 

“This is where we will help, developing an existing jetty to make it look clean, beautiful, and attractive to increase tourism activities and to provide business opportunities for them (entrepreneurs),” she told reporters after launching the housing project at Taman Puncak Kasa Heights.

Zuraida said all of the chairmen of the national state tourism committee should cooperate with the local government (PBT) to identify possible rural areas to be established or upgraded as a hub for rural tourism. 

She said Jason Bay in Kota Tinggi, Johor, and Umbai in Jasin is one of the projects which will start soon.