Terengganu: Nearly one million tourists visited Terengganu during the festive holiday period in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration from May 22 to June 1. State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris reported that this figure was derived from entry records via the toll plaza on the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), which recorded the entry of 419,183 vehicles during that period.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this number excludes motorcycles and entries through federal roads from Besut and Kemaman, as well as arrivals at Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Nerus. Razali estimated that the total number of tourists during the Aidiladha holiday season could surpass 943,161 people.

The influx of visitors has invigorated the state's tourism sector and provided a boost to the local economy. Razali noted that even local residents living in other states contributed economically by spending on accommodations and meals throughout the holiday period.

Razali mentioned plans to collaborate with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) to assess the total expenditure of tourists in the state. He also highlighted that 20% of the tourists were from foreign countries such as China, Singapore, and Thailand.

Confident in reaching the target of nine million tourists for the year, Razali cited the state's record of 2.45 million tourists in the first quarter. He attributed the attraction to the natural beauty of Terengganu's islands and other nature-based tourism products like lakes, waterfalls, and rivers, which offer appealing views and a tranquil atmosphere for leisure and recreational activities.