Today, Genting Highlands is one of Malaysia’s best-known mountain destinations. But before the hotels, cable cars, theme parks and shopping malls, the summit of Mount Ulu Kali was remote rainforest reached only through difficult mountainous terrain.
The transformation began with the vision of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, a contractor and entrepreneur who believed Malaysians could enjoy a cool highland resort much closer to Kuala Lumpur than Cameron Highlands.
Founder: Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong
Genting Group founded: 1965
Access road construction began: 8 August 1965
Access road opened: 1969
Casino licence granted: 28 April 1969
Resort opened: 8 May 1971
The Idea Behind Genting Highlands
Lim Goh Tong had already established himself as a successful contractor before Genting Highlands began. During his work in Cameron Highlands, he was inspired by the cool mountain environment and began thinking about creating a highland resort closer to Kuala Lumpur.
Official Genting records place this inspiration in 1964, while Resorts World Genting also records a nine-day expedition to the summit of Gunung Ulu Kali in 1963. Lim later identified the roughly 1,800-metre-high Mount Ulu Kali area, near the Selangor–Pahang border, as the location for his mountain resort vision.
1965: The Genting Project Begins
The Genting Group traces its founding to 1965, when Lim Goh Tong began turning the mountaintop resort idea into a real development project.
On 8 August 1965, construction began on the access road from Genting Sempah towards the summit of Mount Ulu Kali. Building a mountain road through dense tropical rainforest and steep terrain was one of the project’s biggest challenges.
Why the road mattered: Without reliable road access, building materials, workers, equipment and eventually visitors could not reach the summit efficiently. The road was therefore the foundation for everything that followed.
A Project Many Thought Was Impossible
The scale of the undertaking made Genting a highly risky project. Lim committed substantial personal resources to the development and became known for a hands-on approach to construction.
Resorts World Genting has recorded that Lim faced six near-death experiences during the development and even mortgaged properties while pursuing the project. Genting’s own corporate history also notes that he risked his life several times while pushing to complete the access road earlier than originally planned.
1969: The Road Reaches the Summit
By 1969, the approximately 25.5-kilometre access road from Genting Sempah to the peak of Mount Ulu Kali was opened. This was a major turning point because the mountain was finally connected by road to the wider transport network.
On 31 March 1969, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, attended the laying of the foundation stone for the first hotel. Genting’s official historical account states that he said the Government would consider granting a casino licence to support tourism development in the remote mountain area.
On 28 April 1969, Malaysia granted Genting its casino licence.
It is more accurate to describe the licence as part of the Government’s consideration of tourism development at Genting rather than simply calling it a “reward” for building the road.
1971: Genting Highlands Opens
On 8 May 1971, Genting Highlands Resort officially opened for business.
Genting’s corporate milestone records identify the group’s first hotel as the Genting Highlands Hotel, a 200-room property. The building is today known as Genting SkyWorlds Hotel.
This opening marked the transition from a difficult mountain construction project into a functioning tourism destination.
From Mountain Resort to Resorts World Genting
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Nine-day expedition to the summit of Gunung Ulu Kali recorded by Resorts World Genting |
| 1964 | Lim Goh Tong’s highland resort inspiration is recorded in Genting’s official founder history |
| 1965 | Genting Group founded; mountain access road construction begins |
| 1969 | Access road opens; hotel foundation stone laid; casino licence granted |
| 1971 | Genting Highlands Resort opens for business |
| 1975 | Awana Skyway, Genting’s first cable car, is launched |
| 1992 | Genting Indoor Theme Park opens |
| 1994 | Chin Swee Caves Temple and Genting Outdoor Theme Park open |
| 1997 | Genting Skyway officially opens |
| 2001 | First World Plaza & First World Indoor Theme Park completed |
| 2006 | First World Hotel is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest hotel |
| 2017 | Genting Highlands Premium Outlets opens |
| 2018 | Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park opens following the resort’s redevelopment |
| 2022 | Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park opens as the resort’s new outdoor theme park |
The Meaning Behind “Genting”
The Chinese name commonly associated with Genting is Yun Ding (云顶), a phrase that conveys the idea of a summit or peak among the clouds. That description fits the resort’s high-elevation setting, where mist and cloud often surround the mountain.
From dense rainforest to a world-renowned highland resort.
“Before Genting became a city in the clouds, this mountain was dense rainforest. Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong believed Malaysia needed a cool highland resort closer to Kuala Lumpur. In 1965, he began building the mountain road from Genting Sempah to the summit. Many people thought the idea was impossible, but the road opened in 1969 and Genting Highlands Resort officially welcomed visitors in 1971. What you see today grew from that one road and one man’s determination to build something on a mountain that few people believed could be developed.”
Five Interesting Facts About Genting Highlands
1. The access road came before the resort
Building road access to Mount Ulu Kali was one of the first and most important steps in developing Genting Highlands.
2. Lim Goh Tong was personally involved
Genting’s histories consistently describe Lim as a hands-on founder who committed his own resources and spent significant time supervising the development.
3. He survived multiple dangerous incidents
Resorts World Genting records six near-death experiences during the construction period.
4. Genting developed its own cable-car history
Awana Skyway was introduced in 1975, followed by the Genting Skyway in 1997 and a new Awana SkyWay in 2016.
5. The modern resort continues to evolve
Major additions have included Genting Highlands Premium Outlets, Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park and Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park.
Genting Highlands History Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Genting Highlands?
Genting Highlands was developed through the vision of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, founder of the Genting Group.
When was Genting Highlands founded?
The Genting Group traces its founding to 1965, when development of the mountaintop resort project began.
When did the road to Genting Highlands open?
The access road from Genting Sempah to the summit of Mount Ulu Kali opened in 1969.
When did Genting Highlands officially open?
Genting Highlands Resort opened for business on 8 May 1971.
What was the first hotel in Genting Highlands?
Genting’s official milestone history identifies Genting Highlands Hotel as its first hotel. The property is now known as Genting SkyWorlds Hotel.
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