JOHOR BARU: Parks under the Johor National Parks have received a steady stream of local visitors since reopening on Nov 1.

       Johor National Parks Corporation (PTNJ) director Hanis Musalman Salehan said among the most popular choices were Tanjung Piai, Pulau Kukup and Gunung Ledang.

       “Our reopening coincided with the high tide phenomenon at the Tanjung Piai park, which started on Thursday and will last for four days.

       “This has attracted many visitors, who are mostly Johoreans.” he said when contacted yesterday.

       Hanis Musalman was encouraged by the positive response from visitors who had not visited the parks in months due to movement restrictions which were lifted in October.

       He added that Pulau Kukup National Park receives an average of 50 visitors daily.

       He said as the Covid-19 threat was still present, there were many guidelines set by the authorities that needed to be followed.

       “As part of our efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, only visitors that have been inoculated can enter our parks and they are allowed to bring their children along. We will screen their body temperature.

       “They must wear their face masks at all times when in the park.

       “We also limit the number of visitors that can enter at any one time to ensure there are no large crowds,” he said, adding that tickets to enter the parks are priced at RM5 for adults and RM3 for children.

       Asked if the parks would be closed again due to the monsoon season, Hanis Musalman said they were monitoring the situation closely.

       He added that the monsoon season would usually affect Endau-Rompin Peta and Endau-Rompin Selai as floodwaters tended to damage entry points at both parks.

       Hanis Musalman also said that movement restrictions had had a positive impact on the flora and fauna in all parks under PTNJ.

       “For example, the mangrove trees at Tanjung Piai have become taller after a breakwater was built by the Drainage and Irrigation Department while corals at Pulau Kukup have also increased.

       “With no human interference, this has attracted many sea creatures and birds to come to the parks and hopefully this will continue,” he added.

       Hanis Musalman also said that PTNJ was hopeful that the country’s borders would reopen soon as many foreign tourists, in particular those from Singapore, usually visit the parks.

       On Oct 22, Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the royal patron of the state’s national parks, said that all national parks in Johor would reopen beginning Nov 1 after being closed for almost six months due to the pandemic.