As more and more Australians discover the beaches of Malaysian Borneo, especially within Sabah, consumer awareness of the country’s coastline is growing.  And now Tourism Malaysia is highlighting a state within Peninsula Malaysia which can be accessed from Kuala Lumpur within an hour by plane and five by road.

“Terengganu is very easily accessed from Kuala Lumpur,” said Datuk Hj Za’abar Dato Hj Mohd Adib, Terengganu State Committee for Tourism Chairman.

“3.3 million travellers visited in 2009… and we think we can achieve 4 million travellers in 2010.”

Promoting their Visit Terengganu campaign, the state tourism board is taking advantage of Australians’ affinity with water and heavily promoting their 244km of coastline.

Featuring several islands within its state boundaries, “its island hopping… Malaysian style,” exclaims Shahrin Mokhtar, Tourism Malaysia Director Sydney.

Turtle watching, turtle conservation, and turtle research are another reason to visit; with the state so enamoured of the sea creatures that it features on their tourism logo.

Including AIME and the Sydney Travel Expo in their rounds, the delegation also hosted an agents’ information evening in order to update the local industry on some of the local tourism products.

Several of the luxury properties in the area were represented on the evening, including the Berjaya Redang Beach Resort, Primula Beach Resort and YTL Hotels, and who also gave away several accommodation prizes to lucky agents on the night.

Source: etravelblackboard.com

The objective of the centre, to be located on a 3.2ha plot, is the conservation of the species as well as a site for research and outreach programmes.

Malaysian Nature Society president Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor told the New Straits Times that these would include educational campaigns, volunteer and fund-raising activities.

The TCC will also aim to restore the depleted wild populations of freshwater, terrestrial and marine turtles in the country, especially in northern Terengganu.

Freshwater and marine turtle conservation work in Penarik is now carried out by three agencies, namely the state Fisheries Department, World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.

The establishment of the conservation centre in Penarik, which has been described in the past as a stronghold for the survival of river and painted terrapins, will allow for the coordination of activities by the three agencies.

Even better, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is poised to become its patron.

Salleh said the king has consented to the setting up of the centre in Penarik, Setiu, “without hesitation” after the former had sought an audience with him in May.

“Hopefully, the centre will also become an ideal site for eco-tourism, which is a huge business worldwide and will have many spillover effects for the local community.”

Salleh, who is also the Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation deputy chairman, said some RM2.5 million in funds was needed to set up TCC. He said the centre would begin operations as early as next year.

He said that MNS was willing to work with other related non-governmental organisations to make the centre a success.

Former Universiti Malaysia Terengganu lecturer Prof Chan Eng Heng, who is the brains behind the centre, said the centre was modelled after the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The centre will consist of an open-air hatchery, ponds and tanks for head-starting of freshwater turtles, breeding ponds and outdoor exhibits.

Those interested in donating towards the centre can contact Salleh or Chan at MNS and enghengchan@gmail.com respectively.

Source: travel.asiaone.com