By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Aug 6 — Shah Alam’s newest attraction SkyCity, located in i-City, is expected to significantly boost tourism in the state, ensuring Visit Selangor Year 2025’s success.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the RM15 million project, which is scheduled to open in December, is set to be one of the state’s top tourist destinations.
Together with other existing products in i-City, they are projected to draw some five million tourists next year, representing over 70 per cent of the overall seven million local and international visitors Visit Selangor Year 2025 is aiming for.
"Based on the current data we have, this area (i-City) has proven to be among the main attractions for those visiting Shah Alam.
“This can be considered as a tourism activity as it requires visitors to stay at least one night in a hotel, classifying them as tourists,” he told the press after the groundbreaking ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel today.
SkyCity is a striking 60 metre tall tower that features a 600 metre long glass slide with loops and turns, making it Malaysia’s tallest glass water slide.
It is expected to be open to the public on December 11, in conjunction with the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj’s birthday.
[caption id="attachment_367095" align="alignleft" width="384"]
i-City Selangor chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Ahmad Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah delivers his speech during SkyCity's groundbreaking ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Shah Alam, on August 6, 2024. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Amirudin said that upon the project’s completion, the area will become a sustainable and modern city, equipped with residential neighbourhoods, recreational facilities, shopping centres, and office spaces.
"I have witnessed i-City's transformation since 2008, evolving from an area once deemed without promise into a major attraction and hub of activity in Malaysia and Selangor,” he said.
Meanwhile, i-City Selangor chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Ahmad Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah said the SkyCity, which will be fused with LED lighting, will become a notable Shah Alam landmark upon its completion.
To help Selangor with its tourism campaign, i-City will carry out extensive promotion to attract more visitors.
He expects the attraction, which allows visitors the experience of "swimming in the sky and flying in the water", to be a main draw next year for both locals and international visitors.
"We believe that SkyCity will be the cherry on top of the cake.
“By offering unparalleled experiences, we are confident that i-City will draw five million visitors from around the globe next year, contributing significantly to the success of Visit Selangor Year 2025's seven million tourists goal," Tengku Ahmad Shah said in his speech.
[caption id="attachment_367096" align="aligncenter" width="1103"]
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari (second from right) carries out the groundbreaking ceremony for SkyCity at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Shah Alam, on August 6, 2024. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
