SASTIEC Will Increase Tourist Arrivals To Tioman Island

KUANTAN (Pahang, Malaysia) May 3 (Bernama) – The 10th Sultan Ahmad Shah Tioman International Eco Challenge (SASTIEC) at Tioman Island, Rompin, near here, next week will help increase the number of tourists to the island. Pahang Tourism and Culture committee chairman Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said the event received very good response, despite the fact that the race has entered its 10th year. “Honestly speaking it is difficult to maintain the momentum of organising a big event every year, but we have managed to continue with SASTIEC, thanks for the support and participation of many parties, including from overseas. “Thus far, we have received 20 participants from Kenya for the international category and 200 participants in the local and veteran categories and it is close to our target of 250 participants,” he told reporters at the Urban Transformation Center (UTC) here Tuesday. Also present was SASTIEC chairman Lt Col Tengku Kamarulzaman Sultan Abu Bakar and Pahang Tourism general manager Ishak Mokhtar. He said for this year’s event that would take place on May 13, cash prize of RM42, 550 (about US$9,860) would be offered and in conjunction with the race’s 10th anniversary, a special cash prize of RM10,000 awaits winners of the men's and women's categories. (US$1 = RM4.31) -- BERNAMA