De Rhu Beach Resort human resources assistant manager Ab Halim Yunus said the moratorium period could help restore the confidence of tourists who were put off by the pollution.
“As a result of the pollution, tourist arrivals dropped by 20 per cent less last year and this has affected our income,” he said.
Abdul Halim said news of the pollution caused by bauxite mining had caused many tourists to cancel or postpone their trip.
“The moratorium can control the movement of lorries but what will happen after three months?
“The people expect the government to have an action plan to prevent the problem from recurring. The best thing is for the government to ban such activities for good,” he said.
Le Village Beach Resort spokesman Shahrudin Hadzri hoped the moratorium period would bring about positive impact on the hospitality business.
This was because bauxite mining activities had caused tourists to skip Kuantan for fear that their vehicles would be damaged by the red dust.
“Being in the sales section, I have often been asked about how serious is the pollution. Some even joke that Pahang Darul Makmur is not prosperous as the name implies,” he said.
Food stall operator Norzainah Salleh said her daily sale at Batu Hitam beach of between RM500-RM600 had dropped to only RM200 because of the pollution.
“Maybe the government should consider banning bauxite mining for good. It is only beneficial to a select few while many have to bear the consequences,” she added.
— BERNAMA