A group of 16 representatives from local print and electronic media were recently treated to the uniqueness of Kelantan’s tourism products, courtesy of Tourism Malaysia’s Xpresi Cuti-Cuti Malaysia programme.
Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (promotion) Datuk Musa Yusof said the programme would help boost tourism promotion in the state and attract domestic and international tourists.
"We believe every state in Malaysia has their own unique interesting tourist destinations, and based on the concept of travel and storytelling, we hope that the publicity surrounding the programme can be translated from various different angles, and will encourage more people to visit these tourist destinations and rejuvenate the local tourism, arts and culture scene,” he said here today.
Musa said the media representatives who experienced the tourist products can produce unique stories for readers in terms of written articles and visuals both in print and social media.
Through quality publishing, he hoped more people would learn of Kelantan’s uniqueness and boost tourist arrivals and stimulate the local economy.
Musa said the four-day programme, which began last Tuesday (June 6) served as preparation for the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year, slated for 2026.
He added that the current tourism trends showed that tourists were more prone to get close and explore environmental-based tourism products, and to practise sustainable tourism.
"So, we need to pay close attention to many factors to ensure Malaysia remains as a choice destination, and as a Top-of-Mind Ecotourism Destination of the World. These factors include cleanliness, carbon footprint, the use of plastic and conservation and preservation of flora and fauna,” he said.
The programme featured several interesting locations, including the Iktikaf Maahad Tahfiz Al-Quran Darul Quwwah Mosque, made of 11 types of timber, and the Rumah Tiang 12, a traditional Kelantan Malay house, estimated to be over 100 years old.
Participants also visited the Po-land Grape Machang, the first grape orchard in the state, and had a go at traditional gold prospecting and enjoyed the natural beauty of the environment in Jeli district at beautiful locales such as Lata Kashmir, Lata Turbo, Lata Janggut, Lata Hokkaido and Mawoo Waterfall.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency