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New Water Taxi Route Map by UMT Researchers Expected to Improve Terengganu’s Tourism Sector

New Water Taxi Route Map by UMT Researchers Expected to Improve Terengganu’s Tourism Sector

Sunday, 26/09/2021

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Terengganu’s tourism sector has shown its potential in contributing to the development of the state economy especially in terms of income generation and job opportunities. The state’s location near the coast is one of the attractions for domestic and international tourists. The sector’s development can indirectly generate income for the local residents in that they can offer services such as land and water transport.

Water taxi (bot penambang) service is popular among Kuala Terengganu residents and used to be the main form water transport in the early days. However, it is now forgotten due to modernisation and other factors. This can be seen through less number of people choosing to use water taxis. Reasons are plenty, including their limited speed, unattractive appearance, and limited destinations. Also, there has been an increase in individually-owned transports.

In addition, TTI River Cruise with its base at Pulau Wan Man is one of the factors causing water taxis to be more forgotten. It offers various service packages for travelling along Sungai Terengganu. Its newer and more modern-looking boat can fit 20 passengers per trip.  

Moreover, responsible parties have not taken any actions to preserve the heritage of this small industry. Worse still, water taxi operators are now facing severe challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has further reduced the number of passengers and consequently their income.

Therefore, a group of researchers from the Faculty of Maritime Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, has published a route map of water taxis along Sungai Terengganu. The group comprises Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Mohamad Rosni Othman, Dr N. Muhammad Aslaam Mohamed Abdul Ghani, Dr Izyan Munirah Mohd Zaideen, Dr Masha Nur Salsabiela Menhat, and Nur Hazwani Karim.

The project carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Logistics and Transport Centre (MaLTraC) received fund from UMT’s Centre for Knowledge Transfer and Industrial Networking under the Knowledge and Technology Assimilation Grant Scheme. The route map will enable boat owners to increase their income from RM1500 to RM5000 a month and offer quality services to tourists.

In addition, the route map can increase the supply chain and attract youths to consider a career in water transport sector in the future. A detailed plan has been outlined, and proper training module will be forwarded to the Department of Skills Development.

According to Dr Mohamad Rosni, lead researcher, the route map is expected to improve the sustainability of the state’s water taxi service and subsequently increase the quality of the service and operators’ incomes. This is an initiative to preserve the tradition of Terengganu River water taxi service, in operation since 1950s.

Before this, the route of water taxis only involved travelling from Seberang Takir jetty base to Payang Market. With the new route map, six new destinations have been introduced, including Pulau Duyong, Pulau Kambing, Kampung Bukit Datu, Kampung Losong, Pulau Wan Man, and Pulau Rusa. The model is seen as a structured water taxi service.

The project received full cooperation from the local authorities, Malaysia Marine Department (Eastern Region) and Kuala Terengganu City Council, through the implementation of new water taxi route system covering eight destinations along the coast of Sungai Terengganu.

In addition, the project supported the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 outlined by the United Nations to conserve and use the oceans sustainably. The project’s approach also emphasizes the reduction of pollution in Sungai Terengganu caused by water transports, by considering all factors including social, economic, ocean governance policy, and others to maintain the ocean’s sustainability.

The management of coastal areas and the waters needs a more integrated approach where the planning not only involves the strategic part but also the efforts and actions to realize it. Indirectly, this can increase Terengganu tourism’s image and help the state prepare the influx of visitors following the recent easing of the Movement Control Order.

Prepared by:

Dr. Izyan Munirah Mohd Zaideen
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Maritime Studies
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.

 

Published by:

Corporate Communication Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu