NOT many people have innovative ideas to promote Sarawak to the outside world but doing it through organising experiential learning trips could be an interesting way to woo foreign tourists, particularly the young ones.
And showing the way is Borneo To The World (BTTW) chief executive offi cer Azri Abdul Rahman who plans to woo young tourists by organising EDUCORE (ecoeducational - Eco-Tourism/Edu-Tourism) trips – the first here – with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
For starters, the 40-year-old enterprising businessman will bring in a group of 40 student leaders from the Hwa Chong International School of Singapore some time in December this year.
These upper secondary students will stay at Bako International Park in conjunction with their school holidays.
Throughout their stay, the students will be introduced to the unique features of the local natural forest reserves and national parks by BTTW and their partners – Unesco and the state tourism authorities – as part of their experiential learning programme.
“Their trip to Sarawak will be an interesting holiday and learning experience” Azri enthused.
The upcoming nature conservation awareness programme will be undertaken by his family company as part of its business concepts and plans.
Based on his enthusiastic approach to wooing tourists to the state, it’s small wonder his company will also be introducing Sarawak’s first ever range of locally produced bar soaps which coincidentally carries the Borneo To The World brand name.
Educating the public
According to Azri, the project is aimed at creating public awareness of the importance of conservation as well as educating the younger generation on the subject.
“We are planning to organise the ecoeducational trips by working hand in hand with the Sarawak Tourism Board, the Tourism Ministry and other authorities concerned” he said of the project which has generated keen interest from Unesco and the Malaysia National Commission for Unecso which are now BTTW partners.
“They will help us by providing the manpower to lead the trips and the materials needed to disseminate information among the participants,” he added.
The project targets students at upper secondary school and university levels.
Azri hoped the participating top grade school students would become future environmental champions with a mission to spread the message that rainforests must be jointly conserved as our planet’s living lungs.
That’s why the places to covered during the programme include Bako National Park – and also Mulu soon.
According to Azri, Bako is selected as the main venue this year because it’s a world heritage site at our own backyard and also near the award-winning Sarawak Cultural Village and the seaside resort of Pantai Damai, Santubong.
He is optimistic the upcoming project will be well received by the targetmarket because not many people in the world have the opportunity or privilege to experience this kind of learning experience in their own land because they may be growing up or living in a “concrete jungle.”
“We hope the big boys like Petronas, Shell or even our local partners such as Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, will join us in making this programme a success as well as an annual affair with more participation from Asean countries.”
Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: EDUCORE trips to woo young tourists to Sarawak
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