SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said a tourism management board should be set up to oversee tourism attractions in the state, to ensure the existing ones were adequately maintained and to come up with new attractions.
He said there were many attractions in Negeri Sembilan, but some were poorly maintained and lacked proper daily management.
"At times there are just too many agencies or departments involved and no one seems to take proper responsibility. In the end, the place is neglected and tourists no longer find it attractive.
"We need to set up a board that can properly manage and maintain these destinations to ensure they stay attractive and are equipped with facilities to draw and maintain tourist arrivals," he said.
Speaking after chairing the state executive council meeting, he said the government had decided to postpone Visit Negri Sembilan Year activities, earlier proposed for 2010, to a later date.
The postponement was provide sufficient time to come up with new, marketable tourism products .
"We must have better products. There is no point having a Visit Negri Sembilan Year when we do not have the products or facilities to draw the crowd," he said.
He said it was pointless for the authorities to introduce something new, get excited about it and then neglect it later.
"There have been occasions when we have spent lots of money on a new product only to forget about it over time and let it become nothing more than a white elephant.
"At times, the facilities are so run down, with even the rubbish not collected for weeks," he said.
He said the proposed tourism board, with full-time members, will work closely with government agencies and departments to come up with new value-added products and promotions for tourists.
He said the state government was open to suggestions on how to improve tourist arrivals and welcomed new proposals and packages by interested parties.
Mohamad said the construction of a convention centre was part of the plan for the development of Port Dickson.
"Once this convention centre and other proposed development projects are completed, we are confident room occupancy rates at the hotels and resorts will increase, even on weekdays," he said.
