KUALA NERUS: Members of the public are being urged to refrain from all water-related activities when visiting Terengganu during the upcoming year-end school holidays, particularly amid the Northeast Monsoon season, which poses significant safety risks.
Terengganu State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Datuk Razali Idris said unpredictable weather conditions, strong currents and high waves during the monsoon period could endanger lives if precautionary measures are ignored.
He stressed that activities such as swimming in the sea, camping near waterfalls and engaging in river-based recreation should be strictly avoided due to the heightened risk of flash floods and sudden surges in water levels.
“With the school holidays approaching, we expect a surge in visitors. However, safety must come first, and certain destinations should be avoided during this season,” he said.
Razali was speaking after the launch of the Terengganu 2026 Calendar of Events here today.
He also called on hotels, resorts and tourism accommodation operators to play a more active role in educating guests by providing safety briefings and displaying videos highlighting the dangers of water activities during the monsoon.
“These measures are crucial in ensuring visitors understand the risks involved, especially those unfamiliar with local weather patterns,” he said.
For island destinations, Razali noted that access approvals would be subject to assessments by the Marine Department Malaysia based on prevailing sea conditions.
On tourism performance, Razali said Terengganu recorded 8.5 million tourist arrivals from January to November this year, surpassing the initial target of six million visitors.
Of the total, 7.2 million were domestic tourists, while the remainder comprised international visitors. The state aims to increase the proportion of foreign tourists to 30 per cent next year through targeted promotions and events.