By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Feb 18 — Tourism Selangor is determined to boost the tourism sector while empowering the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda) project in its efforts to help enhance the local economy.
Its chief executive officer Azrul Shah Mohamad said the agency is actively collaborating with various tourism communities, including the Selangor Community Hubs, the Sekinchan Tourism Association, and the Sungai Panjang Agro Tourism, to achieve this goal.
“Sabda is part of the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), and we are focusing on several tourism segments, including this project, to help increase the income of residents and attract both local and international tourists.
“We are also intensifying the promotion of the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark as it will receive global recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) by 2027,” he said when contacted.
Tourism Selangor is also planning over 100 programmes across all districts to attract more tourists in anticipation of Visit Selangor Year 2025.
Azrul said they include the Kelanang Beach Festival in Kuala Langat, the Satay and Coffee Harmony Programme 2.0 (in Kajang), the Canal Ban Carnival 2024 (in Sabak Bernam), and the Moto GP (in Sepang).
Previously, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said six projects under Sabda, expected to be operational from 2025 onwards, will attract up to RM1.9 billion in investments and create an estimated 3,600 high-paying job opportunities.
This includes the construction of the Smart Selangor Agro Park in Changkat Menteri, a high-tech Fisheries Center in Sekinchan, and the Air Manis Business Center, encompassing 1,317 hectares of land.
Also listed are the Sabak Bernam Rest and Treatment Centre project, agro-tourism in Sekinchan, and the local construction and maintenance center for boats or fishing vessels on Sungai Lang.