Despite pandemic, quaint Kelantan village draws visitors in droves

 

Boat rides and a jungle walk draw visitors to Kampung Pulau Tengah, Kubang Kerian. (Bernama pic)

KOTA BHARU: Despite the gloom brought by the closure of the country’s borders since the movement control order was enforced in March, the sleepy village of Kampung Pulau Tengah, Kubang Kerian, near here, is seeing a boom in tourists.

The visitors are thrilled by this natural haven. The traditional village has become an agro ecotourism destination.

A village committee member, Mohd Hishammudin Ghazali, 38, said the natural beauty of the village has spread by word of mouth, attracting at least 500 people during the weekends.

He said this has helped improve the villagers’ income and made them want to improve their services to tourists.

Hishamuddin who also owns Mentari Bee Island, said those who follow the 3km river trail by boat from Kampung Pulau Tengah to Kampung Pulau Melaka get to visit three villages, observe the local community‘s activities and enjoy the natural beauty at Sungai Pengkalan Datu.

Currently, the villagers have provided three boats to cater to 18 passengers at one time.

“They are charged RM10 to RM15 each and the rides are available from 10am to 6.30pm daily,” he said.

“Visitors will be able to see what the local community do for a living here as they harvest the nipah palm fruits, extract the nira juice, catch crabs, search for lokan clams and work at their fish farms.

“With the increasing number of visitors, we plan to increase the number of boats.”

There is also a firefly park situated 200 metres from Kampung Pulau Tengah, open from 8.30pm to 10.30pm daily except Tuesdays and Thursdays. These boat rides range from RM10 to RM15.

“The forest here is well-preserved so tourists can take a deep look into nature at Kampung Pulau Tengah and have an enchanting experience watching fireflies as they take the river cruise under the moonlight,” he said.

Meanwhile to attract visitors Mohd Zaini Mat Rawi, who runs the Astacona Riverview Island Restaurant here, offers customers the opportunity to enjoy their meals on a tree as tall as 10 metres high.

According to Zaini, 49, there used to be only about 50 customers at the restaurant which he set up five years ago. Since the beauty of the village went viral, he is seeing up to 400 a day.

“For safety reasons only two customers are allowed to enjoy the meal-on-tree experience while others are given the chance to go to the tree top for 30 minutes for RM1.

“Village traders are now able to earn extra income, which can be as much as RM1,000 a day,” he said.

Noor Sofea Qistina Abdul Rahman, 29, was among the visitors following the river trail passing through the one-kilometre bridge crossing in the village. She came to know about the interesting location on Facebook.

“I was thrilled to learn that there is such a place where the forests and rivers are still well-preserved. The quaint bridge crossing, with its natural surroundings, is a beauty and is enough to entice tourists to this state,” she said. - FMT