Sultan Wants Tourism Industry Players To Creatively Promote Terengganu To The World

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin today said tourism industry players in the state should be creative and innovative by providing tourism packages that capitalise on the state's uniqueness and biodiversity.

The Sultan said Terengganu which was well known for its beautiful islands, sea and beaches, as well as the oldest rainforest in the world could become a major natural tourist destination.

"I also wish to suggest to the state government to carry out well-planned and comprehensive ecotourism development with infrastructural facilities and so on.
"I urge that the private sector also be involved in developing the ecotourism spots by building hotels and chalets," he said when opening the Terengganu Ecotourism and Marine Tourism International Seminar 2013, at a hotel, here, today.

Also present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, state assembly Speaker Mohd Zubir Embong and state Tourism, Information, Communications and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee.

Ecotourism was introduced in Malaysia in 1996 in the National Ecotourism Plan which suggested sustainable tourism development in 48 identified places including Tasik Kenyir, Kuala Terengganu and the Setiu Wetlands.

In his speech, Sultan Mizan also said that the state government should focus on several locations and tourism activities, and called for the community's involvement in protecting and preserving the natural environment.

The Sultan also suggested that the state government study the proposal to make the Setiu Wetlands as state or national wetlands to promote community-based tourism where tourists could go boating along the river, visit caged fish and oyster breeding sites, and plant mangrove saplings.

He said bird-watching in Tasik Kenyir could also be developed because to date, 230 species of birds, including nine species of hornbills, had been recorded in the area.

"I also see the diving industry as a marine industry which depends much on the islands and nature, hence an environmental study must be done in any island development plan, so as to protect the natural environment and marine life," Sultan Mizan said.
-bernama.