By Aida Aziz
Photo credit: Kosmo
IPOH: The extraordinary congestion in Cameron Highlands, which leaves visitors stranded for hours on the roads, is having serious negative implications for the tourism sector there.
This issue deserves to be taken seriously, as it has been ongoing for quite some time, with some even claiming that the hotel industry has been severely impacted due to numerous booking cancellations by customers.
As such, MIC Vice President Datuk T. Murugiah has urged the government to implement a solution.
“Every public holiday, thousands of tourists are forced to spend hours stuck on the road.
“Some are trapped for half a day before reaching their destination.
“This situation not only affects the comfort of visitors, but also causes exhaustion and frustration, leading some to cancel their holiday plans to Cameron Highlands,” he said.
He also received many complaints from local residents that the hotel industry is now suffering severely.
“Many have said that bookings were canceled because tourists do not want to deal with this extreme congestion.
“Small traders are also feeling a major impact when visitor numbers drop or when they arrive much later than expected,” he added.
He suggested measures such as planning and constructing alternative routes to Cameron Highlands to reduce dependency on the current access roads.
Additionally, maintaining and upgrading traffic systems — such as road widening, smart traffic controls, and integrated parking facilities — could help ease the situation.
Furthermore, he recommended engagement sessions with residents, tourism operators, and traders to gather direct input from affected parties.
“Cameron Highlands is one of the country’s main tourist destinations.
“If this issue continues to be ignored, not only will the local economy decline, but Malaysia may also lose one of its most valuable natural tourist attractions,” he said.
