7-storey hotel with 180 rooms to ease room shortage in KT

KUALA TERENGGANU: A seven-storey hotel costing RM37.4 million slated for completion in October will help ease room shortage here and boost Terengganu's tourism industry, says State Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maidam) executive officer Wan Harujan Sulaiman.

He said the 180-room hotel, near the Zainal Abidin Mosque, here, started construction in May last year to overcome hotel room shortage in this state capital.

"I'm confident the hotel will receive good response given its strategic location near the mosque, bus terminal and the Payang Market frequented by tourists to Terengganu," he said.

Wan Harujan said Maidam received financial allocation from the Endowment, Zakat (Tithe) and Haj Department (JAWHAR) in the Prime Minister's Department.

He also said Maidam may build tiered parking for hotel guests.

Wan Harujan said the hotel is expected to provide jobs for 100 people, particularly orphans and the poor, who received zakat aid.

"A group of orphans and children from poor families are being trained by tourism agencies here before they start work at the hotel," he said.

He also said Maidam would hand over management of the hotel to a company experienced in hotel management.

"Maidam has no experience and expertise in hotel management," he said, adding that Maidam was negotiating with Jawhar on the handing over of the hotel management to a third party. — Bernama