KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Tanco Holdings Bhd is set to turn Port Dickson's fortunes around with its integrated resort project, Palm Springs Resort City, which is the biggest in Negri Sembilan.
Port Dickson was once the country's most popular holiday destination but it has since lost its sparkle, becoming more a destination for day-trips for locals.
This is partly due to the limited attractions and hotel rooms in the district.
The four- and five-star hotels in Port Dickson have only 5,000 rooms and their occupancy rate is as high as about 70 to 80 per cent.
Tanco Holdings not only aims at increasing the number of hotel rooms but also add to Port Dickson's attractions.
The company plans to develop 161.87ha of private land at Batu 13 into the largest integrated resort in PD. It will be a mega international tourism and investment project in Malaysia.
Its executive director Chan Chee Meng said the land would be transformed in the next 10 to 15 years into a destination that provides retirement and healthcare centres, recreation and retreat, lifestyle and entertainment facilities.
He revealed that one of the largest water play ship structure in Malaysia would also be built in Splash Park, a one-of-its-kind tourism project.
“We hope this project will fill in the gap on the current lack of facilities for the day-trippers from Klang Valley, Seremban, and neighbouring states,” Chan said.
The 3.24ha water theme park comprise a lazy river, sand pool, and a wide array of water play toys and facilities. Another 6.07ha of freehold land will have six towers of hotel suites, swimming pools, and other entertainment facilities.
The company is investing about RM720 million in the project, including RM600 million for the Splash Park alone.
“The Splash Park is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, and we hope to further develop the land slowly throughout the span of 10 to 15 years.”
Award winning Impiana Hotels, Resorts & Spa was appointed to manage the two hotel blocks linked to the water theme park under Phase 1 in hopes of spurring tourism and investment landscape in Negri Sembilan as well Malaysia. The hotel blocks will have 830 rooms.
Among the planned future projects to come are a Spa village, retirement village, international hotels, exclusive bungalows, marina, and a cruise terminal.
“We plan to attract 350,000 visitors annually and have attractions designed with safety in mind for young families with children,” he said.
“PSRC has potential to do well not only for tourism development but also the economic development of the country as we hope the resort will create a ripple effect for local businesses in Port Dickson.”
Chan said the current 18-hole Royal Palm Springs golf course, which was completed 15 years ago, a club village, town villas, and an extreme park would be part of PSRC.
“With these projects, we hope Port Dickson would be livelier than it is now and would attract more local and international tourists to overstay instead of the usual day-trippers,” he said.
Negri Sembilan recorded 1.35 million local tourists and 490,000 foreign tourists arrivals in 2012 with Port Dickson being the main draw.
