Selangor: Selangor’s tourism sector is poised for growth with the permanent docking of the Piano Land cruise ship from China at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT) starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling stated that this development is expected to enhance the arrival of international tourists directly to the state and open new opportunities in the maritime tourism sector. The Piano Land ship can accommodate approximately 2,000 passengers, and PKCT’s selection as the home port reflects the terminal’s competitive facilities for the expanding cruise ship tourism segment.
Chua highlighted plans for an exclusive package designed to take tourists directly from the terminal to Pulau Ketam without transit, offering experiences such as walking through mangrove swamps, observing eagles, and visiting the island’s kelong. Currently, tourists must take a taxi to the South Port Terminal Jetty before boarding a boat to Pulau Ketam. A direct route from PKCT will allow tourists to head straight to the destination upon arrival, with PKCT having upgraded a special jetty for this purpose.
According to Chua, this initiative is complemented by the development of short-term tourism packages around Klang and Shah Alam in line with the cruise ship stopover period, adding value to the maritime tourism sector. In conjunction with Visit Selangor Year 2025, Tourism Selangor will organize the Selangor Travel Fair 2025 on July 26 and 27, targeting over 30,000 local visitors and featuring 30 exhibitors.
Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim announced that the state government aims to attract eight million tourists this year, with a projected tourism receipt of RM11.2 billion. As of March 2025, more than 1.77 million visitors have been recorded, with a significant percentage being domestic tourists. Selangor has recorded the highest number of domestic visitors in Malaysia for four consecutive years, with 34.5 million visitors last year.