PULAI Springs Bhd is aiming to turn around its recently-acquired property, the Desaru Perdana Beach Resort, by the end of the year.

Managing director Datuk Chua Jui Leng said that by then, the occupancy rate of the 220-room resort would likely increase to 54% from 32% now.

He said Singaporeans usually accounted for 50% of the guests as the resort was close to the Changi ferry terminal while locals and Japanese made up the rest.

Chua said the company had bought the five-year-old beach resort from Fujiko Ltd of Japan for RM10.6mil.

''It is a good buy considering that the previous owner-developer had spent more than that amount on the resort,'' he told StarBiz after the company's AGM here.

Chua said the resort had been well maintained, making it unnecessary for the company to undertake major refurbishment.

Datuk Chua Jui Leng.

He said effective July 16, the property would be known as The Pulai Desaru Beach and be managed by Pulai Springs Bhd.

Chua said the company was not unduly worried by recent newspaper reports that Desaru, 130 km from Johor Baru, had lost its appeal to holidaymakers. He said Desaru, with its 22 km beach facing the South China Sea, should have no problem attracting visitors.

''Desaru is under-marketed and hoteliers there should put more effort into marketing the place aggressively,'' he added.

Chua said the Federal Government's plan to build a highway linking Senai and Desaru this year would boost development there.

He said the company would develop a nine-acre spa complex at its Pulai Springs Golf and Leisure Resort near Johor Baru this year.

''The spa business is one of the fastest growing segments of the global tourism market, and the company is positioning itself to tap the business,'' he said.

Source : The Star  14/7/2004