Johor hopes to get at least 10 million visitors next year now that most Covid-19 restrictions have been eased.

“We have set the target of getting between five and six million visitors by the end of this year,” said Tourism Johor director Suhairi Hashim.

“For next year, we are hoping to get a total of at least 10 million visitors, with a majority of them expected to be tourists from other countries.”

Based on current trends, he said most international visitors to Johor were from South-East Asian countries, especially Singapore and Indonesia.

“We are trying to attract more visitors from other regions such as the Middle East and Europe.

“We also hope that China will open up and allow its people to travel abroad soon,” he said, adding that a large number of visitors during pre-pandemic times were from China.

Speaking to reporters during the 10th year anniversary celebrations of Legoland Malaysia Resort (Legoland) yesterday, Suhairi said there were plans for several other theme parks to be built in Johor in the next few years.

These included an Upin and Ipin theme park in Iskandar Puteri, he said, adding that there were also discussions for a water park in Johor Baru.

“However, at this point, the plans for all these theme parks are still being discussed.

“There has yet to be a final confirmation,” he said.

Suhairi added that the state government would make an official announcement and provide more details on the projects once they had been confirmed by the relevant developers and investors.

Meanwhile, Legoland divisional director Lim Choong Sean said the number of visitors to the theme park was getting closer to pre-pandemic times.

“We have started seeing the return of international visitors following the reopening of the borders and we expect to see a further increase in the number of guests next year,” he said.