Sultan of Kedah wants fewer visitors at Pulau Payar

 

The number of tourist arrivals at the Pulau Payar marine park, which is rich with undersea treasures, had reached 800 people per day. (Bernama pic)

ALOR SETAR: The Sultan of Kedah wants the number of tourists arrivals to Pulau Payar near Langkawi to be reduced to protect the natural treasures at the marine park.

Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah said this while visiting Pulau Payar to see the current status of the island today.

According to a statement issued by the Istana Anak Bukit corporate communications unit, the number of tourist arrivals to the marine park had reached 800 people per day.

“Such a high number of daily tourists will put pressure on the marine biodiversity,” the statement said.

It added that Sultan Sallehuddin also viewed Pulau Payar as an island rich with undersea treasures that must be protected well.

Previously, the Sultan had urged the authorities to give serious attention to the cleanliness of Pulau Payar and take the initiative to develop the island as a tourism destination with great potential.

During the visit, the Ruler was also briefed about Pulau Payar’s current status by the Fisheries Department director-general Ahmad Tarmidzi Ramly.

Sultan Sallehuddin was accompanied by Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin, Tunku Laksamana of Kedah Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Ibni Sultan Sallehuddin and Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. - FMT