THE newly launched Johor Baru\u2013Kuala Lumpur Electric Train Service (ETS), coupled with the upcoming Johor Baru-Kulai commuter service, is set to boost Johor\u2019s tourism.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said industry players had started seeing the spill-over effects of improved connectivity and were anticipating more visitors next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cTourist spots outside Johor Baru, particularly those near ETS stations, should see more visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are places that may previously have been difficult for tourists, including those from Singapore, to reach.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilarly, the commuter service to Kulai will also spur activities in the district, including its tourism sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the state government\u2019s provision of more bus services around the city would ease travel for both tourists and locals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had a meeting with the Johor Public Transport Cor\u00adporation (PAJ) to discuss providing buses to several places of interest around Johor Baru city.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn top of all this, we also have the Johor Baru\u2013Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project, which is expected to be comple\u00adted by the end of 2026,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, Leong stressed that there needed to be proper promotion and dissemination of information.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaces outside Johor Baru must also be well promoted so that visitors discover the hidden gems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association Johor chapter chairman Jarod Chia said it was important for areas in the outskirts to be highlighted.<\/p>\n \u201cLately, there has been more effort by the state and Federal governments as well as KTM Bhd to promote these places.<\/p>\n \u201cOn top of that, hotels and associations are also coming up with their own campaigns to promote towns that can be accessed via the ETS,\u201d he highlighted.<\/p>\n While such towns had yet to see a significant spike in tourists, he said they were expected to enjoy a boost by early next year.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this will be seen during the Chinese New Year period, when Singaporean visitors normally cross into Johor,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The Kuala Lumpur-Johor Baru ETS 3 began operations on Dec 12, following the completion of the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double-Tracking Project.<\/p>\n The completion of the project saw the introduction of 11 new stations: Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru.<\/p>\n During the launch, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the press that the Government planned to introduce commuter services between Kulai and Johor Baru.<\/p>\n He said the train ride, about 20 minutes each way, was expected to begin by the first quarter of next year, with 16 trips daily in each direction.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Chia](\"https:\/\/apicms.thestar.com.my\/uploads\/images\/2025\/12\/24\/3687935.jpg\")
Chia says hotels and associations are having their own promotional campaigns to promote towns that can be accessed via the ETS.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n