Kelantan supports proposed cross-border boat race to boost tourism
State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said similar races had been held in the past, but only informally and on a smaller scale.
"We have received proposals from several parties to organise a 'Yor Kong' boat race between the two countries along the Golok river.
"In principle, the state government fully supports this initiative and, God willing, we plan to elevate the event with participation from teams representing Kelantan and Thailand's Narathiwat province," he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the closing of a boat racing competition here this evening, Kamaruddin said further discussions would be held with the relevant authorities soon.
He added that the proposed venue would be Pangkalan Pohon Jambu, a well-known site near the Malaysia-Thailand border, which has long served as a hub for social and cultural interaction between the two communities.
"This place is a beautiful and suitable location, with a river that is not too wide and existing facilities that can accommodate the event.
"We also appreciate the positive co-operation from the Mayor of Sungai Golok, Saleeha Mayutoh," he added.
On today's event, he said it had attracted large crowds from both sides of the border.
"This kind of event can help further stimulate cross-border tourism," he added.
He then described the "blindfold boat race" as a potential crowd-puller.
"This is not just about sports; it's about cultural exchange and strengthening ties between the two regions.
"The blindfolded boat racing could offer visitors a memorable experience," he said.
The two-day boat race, which started yesterday, featured 40 teams, including five from Malaysia.
About 2,000 people attended the event, which was closed by Deputy Governor of Narathiwat Wicharn Chaisetsamphan.
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Malaysia-Thailand boat race to boost border economy
PASIR MAS: The plan to hold a boat race competition between Malaysia and Thailand along Sungai Golok could breathe new life into a shared cultural tradition while boosting the local economy. Kelantan Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the event would create opportunities for small businesses, homestay operators, and tourism service providers in Pasir Mas and nearby border areas. 'We feel that events like this can revive the local economy because travellers will come not just to watch the boat race, but also to sample the traditional food, stay in local hotels or homestays and purchase handicrafts,' he told reporters during a trial race at Sungai Golok. The proposed venue, Pohon Jambu base, is already a popular gathering spot for Malaysian and Thai communities. Kamaruddin noted that its strategic location would directly benefit nearby economic activities. 'This place is beautiful and suitable for such an event because the river is not too wide and already has basic facilities. We also receive good cooperation from the Sungai Golok authorities,' he said. Discussions are underway to expand the event by including more teams from Kelantan and Thailand's Narathiwat province, potentially making it an annual affair. A unique blindfolded boat race is also being considered to attract more visitors. The recent two-day trial race featured 40 teams, including five from Malaysia, drawing around 1,000 spectators. Such events not only preserve cultural heritage but also play a key role in revitalising the border economy, heavily reliant on tourism. - Bernama
New Straits Times
a day ago
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Kelantan supports proposed cross-border boat race to boost tourism
SUNGAI GOLOK: The Kelantan government has expressed full support for a proposed cross-border traditional boat race between Malaysia and Thailand on the Golok river, describing it as a potential annual international tourism event. State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said similar races had been held in the past, but only informally and on a smaller scale. "We have received proposals from several parties to organise a 'Yor Kong' boat race between the two countries along the Golok river. "In principle, the state government fully supports this initiative and, God willing, we plan to elevate the event with participation from teams representing Kelantan and Thailand's Narathiwat province," he said. Speaking to reporters after attending the closing of a boat racing competition here this evening, Kamaruddin said further discussions would be held with the relevant authorities soon. He added that the proposed venue would be Pangkalan Pohon Jambu, a well-known site near the Malaysia-Thailand border, which has long served as a hub for social and cultural interaction between the two communities. "This place is a beautiful and suitable location, with a river that is not too wide and existing facilities that can accommodate the event. "We also appreciate the positive co-operation from the Mayor of Sungai Golok, Saleeha Mayutoh," he added. On today's event, he said it had attracted large crowds from both sides of the border. "This kind of event can help further stimulate cross-border tourism," he added. He then described the "blindfold boat race" as a potential crowd-puller. "This is not just about sports; it's about cultural exchange and strengthening ties between the two regions. "The blindfolded boat racing could offer visitors a memorable experience," he said. The two-day boat race, which started yesterday, featured 40 teams, including five from Malaysia. About 2,000 people attended the event, which was closed by Deputy Governor of Narathiwat Wicharn Chaisetsamphan.
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a day ago
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Malaysia-Thailand Border Area Boat Race Can Spur local Economy
PASIR MAS, July 20 (Bernama) -- The proposal to organise a boat race competition between Malaysia and Thailand at Sungai Golok is not only expected to revive a traditional sport shared by both countries, but also serve as a catalyst for economic and tourism growth in the border area. Kelantan Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the initiative has the potential to provide benefits to small traders, homestay operators and tourism services providers around Pasir Mas and areas bordering Sungai Golok. "We feel that events like this can revive the local economy because travellers will come not just to watch the boat race, but also to sample the traditional food, stay in local hotels or homestays and purchase handicrafts,' he told reporters while attending the trial boat race at Sungai Golok (Malaysian side) here today. He added that the proposed location (for the boat race) - the Pohon Jambu base - is already known as a focal point for Malaysian and Thai communities, and its selection is expected to have a direct impact on the economic activities of nearby residents. "This place is beautiful and suitable for such an event because the river is not too wide and already has basic facilities. We also receive good cooperation from the Sungai Golok authorities,' he said. He added that discussions would be held to organise it on a larger scale by involving more teams from Kelantan and Thailand's Narathiwat province, so that it can be turned into an annual affair. Besides the main competition, a unique event being planned is a blindfolded boat race, which could add value and attract more visitors from both countries. This year's trial race, held over two days on July 19 and 20, features 40 teams, including five from Malaysia, attracting an estimated 1,000 spectators. Such events not only help preserve cultural heritage, but also play a significant role in revitalising the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism activities in the border area.
