IT'S a bright, sunny day perfect for a picnic on the beach but first-timers to Port Dickson would be at a loss to find their way around.
A Tourist Information Centre (TIC) situated among a row of shops along the Seremban-Port Dickson (PD) highway has been closed to the public despite a notice outside which details its operating hours.
How a newcomer to this beach retreat would find his or her way around is a question that pops into mind immediately.
And the other TIC at Teluk Kemang is also locked.
State tourism, unity, culture, arts, heritage and Malay customs committee chairman Mohammad Razi Kail expressed shock when told that the centres were not operating.
"I thought that the state Tourism Malaysia office had already begun operations of the highway TIC," he said.
Quiet day: The beach along PD's 4th mile is deserted on a sunny Sunday afternoon despite the state government spending millions of ringgit to rehabilitate the stretch.
However, state Tourism Malaysia director Hishamuddin Mustafa reiterated that it was his department's responsibility to run the TIC.
"That is the reason we had asked to take over from the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) a few months ago. Unfortunately, we are waiting for approval from headquarters and that has caused the delay," he said.
A spokesman from the state MAH laments the day that Tourism Malaysia took over the reins of the TIC situated on the highway.
"After the launch eight months ago, the running of that TIC was handed over to us (the state MAH). We had been operating it without incident on a rotation basis with member hotels every weekend since the opening.
"We ceased operations on May 17 when the state tourism authority announced its intentions to take over and it has remained closed to the public," she said.
"The state government is always telling us to come up with creative ideas to lure the crowds here, but defective TICs coupled with the recent increase in costs make it twice as hard for us to draw visitors here.
"We have received many complaints from people who are not pleased to find these TICs shut," she said.
Deserted: This empty park bench highlights the lack of visitors to PD's Teluk Kemang Square.
She is not alone in her comments.
Port Dickson assemblyman M. Ravi said it was pointless to set up such structures if there was no one there to man it.
"It is a waste of funds and such a disappointment as visitors to Port Dickson would not be able to sample the best of what the town has to offer without proper directions," he said.
PD Residents Association president Major (Rtd) A.S. Raj said another TIC located at the town's bus terminal was the only place that people could go for help.
"It is now up and running after we lodged complaints that it was manned by a security guard who used to spent most of the time snoozing in it," he said.
Raj also voiced his concern over the authorities slow response in handling these issues that are crucial to PD's survival as a popular beach resort.
Checks by The Star also revealed empty stretches of PD's beaches on a Sunday afternoon. The state government has spent millions of ringgit to reclaim and rehabilitate the beaches.
Water scooter operators and small traders were busy swatting flies rather than tending to their businesses due to the dearth of customers.
Slow business: Shops near the beach in Teluk Kemang are devoid of customers despite it being a Sunday afternoon.
A water scooter operator who declined to be named said customers hardly frequent the reclaimed beaches despite the work the state government has put in to beautify the area.
"It's difficult for us to earn a living as most of the scooter operators are centred around Teluk Kemang beach which sees the highest number of visitors," he said.
So, what is happening to PD, the state's pride and best shot at tourism dollars?
Attempts to get comments from the MPPD were futile.
