BUKIT MERTAJAM - Penang now has another new tourism gem, the Penang River Cruise, a 15-kilometre leisurely boat ride that takes visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Sungai Juru as well as the cultural heritage of Seberang Perai.
The cruise offers tourists a unique experience passing through traditional fishing villages, shellfish aquaculture farms, mangrove forests and the lush panorama of Bukit Juru.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the Penang River Cruise would not only add a new tourist attraction to the state, but would also highlight Seberang Perai as a destination that is increasingly gaining a place in the hearts of tourists.
"The cruise elevates Sungai Juru as a symbol of harmony between nature and local culture, it also opens up space for tourists to enjoy interactive experiences such as catching crabs, fishing and collecting shellfish.
"Tourists from home and abroad also have the opportunity to see the diversity of local flora and fauna including silver leaf monkeys, black giant squirrels, various species of birds, lizards and rare water snakes," he told reporters after officiating the Penang River Cruise at Autocity Juru here recently.
The Penang River Cruise project or tourist boat cruise is led by Auto-City Group in collaboration with the Seberang Perai City Council as the local authority, Think City Sdn. Bhd (Think City), Penang Global Tourism and the Bukit Tengah assemblyman's office.
Wong said the cruise, which takes about two hours, also features stunning sunset views and the natural phenomenon of 'Cermin Langit' (Sky Mirror), which is the reflection on the water surface of the images of houses, fishing boats and the greenery of the riverbanks like a living painting.
"The Penang River Cruise, which is a new tourism product, also contributes to local economic development by making Juru Auto City an integrated tourism centre, combining food culture, entertainment and natural beauty," he said.
Meanwhile, Autocity founder and managing director Gary Teoh said the Penang River Cruise has been operating for the past three months and has received good demand from tourists including from abroad, namely China, Hong Kong and the United States.
He said the new tourism product aims to transform Sungai Juru and Bukit Juru into a regional ecotourism destination, revitalising the area in the midst of urban development that includes industrial, commercial and residential areas.
"In addition, it is also helping to improve the living standards of local fishermen, village youth and women in the area, to complement the tourism attractions of the state.
"Those who join the leisure cruise will not just sit on the boat but will have other activities such as observing migratory birds, catching fish using nets or scooping up shellfish using nets or hard cages, as well as enjoying the vast sea (downstream of Sungai Juru)," he said. - BERNAMA