Johor expects surge in visitors as school holidays kick in on both sides of causeway

JOHOR BAHRU – Johor’s tourism industry is bracing itself for a surge in visitors as the school holiday period has begun in Malaysia and Singapore.

Local industry players said they are gearing up for a much-­anticipated travel wave from across the Causeway.

Desaru Fruit Farm director Steve Er said the tourism industry in Johor is experiencing good times again with both local and international visitors.

“With Malaysia and Singapore having school holidays now, we expect to see many visitors at the farm,” he said.

Mr Er said many hotels operating in Desaru, which is about 75km from Johor, had a lot of bookings because of the school holidays in both countries.

“We expect June to be a busy month for us, especially from the second week, as Desaru has become a popular getaway for both Malaysian and Singaporean holidaymakers with many attractions in the area,” he added.

Mr Er said there are many activities at the farm for the family to enjoy, from tasting various tropical fruits to seeing its many animals.

“Besides hotels in Johor Bahru, those in other areas in Johor state such as Desaru and even Mersing are experiencing a surge in bookings,” he said.

“Singaporeans remain the bulk of foreign visitors, but we are also seeing visitors from Japan, South Korea and China coming over.”

State unity, heritage and culture committee chairman K. Raven Kumar said about 80 per cent of hotel rooms throughout Johor were already booked because of the school holidays.

He said the strong bookings reflect the growing global interest in Johor as a travel destination.

“This is not just a school holiday phenomenon because even on regular weekends, we have recorded impressive numbers, particularly around Johor Bahru,” he said.

“Other areas like Mersing are also seeing an increase in visitor traffic.”

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