To Singapore for the buzz. To Johor for vast skies, open seas

There are many tourist offerings in Johor flying under the radar. If promoted properly, they can complement Singapore and draw visitors.

- Serina Rahman

If we look beyond the spas, shopping and food, what other tourism options come to mind in Johor?

Sadly, not many. That is a shame as there is immense untapped potential in Malaysia's southernmost state, which could act as a perfect foil to the Republic's own attractions.

This is not for want of trying on Johor's part. It has been announced that the Desaru-Penawar coast will anchor tourism development for the state. Meanwhile, the Mandarin Oriental is taking over the One&Only luxury resort, to be rebranded in January 2026.

Big developments across Johor Bahru town and Iskandar Puteri have also tried to create new attractions. Sunway City Iskandar promotes its X Park and is now building a racetrack; Medini has Legoland, which boosts apartment and Airbnb rentals in the area; and Austin Hills has a mix of food and shopping that stretches from AEON Tebrau City to Toppen Shopping Centre to myriad shophouses that offer local food, beauty services, and other attractions.

Shopping malls such as Mid Valley Southkey, Komtar JBCC and City Square overflow with excited Singaporean shoppers and spa-goers every weekend.

The number of day-trippers or overnight visitors from Singapore has breached the 500.000 mark daily over long public holiday weekends. The potential is even higher. Even when it comes to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), whose general pitch is to "sell" the neighbouring states as a uniquely bundled investment attraction, not too much has been said about tourism and how that might be an interesting angle for economic cooperation and development.

LOOKING BEYOND THE BIG CITY

The question is: What other attractions does Johor offer that can be enhanced under the JS-SEZ?