Tourism programme for students a big hit

2009/11/21

By Zainuddin Muhammad

KUALA TERENGGANU: Twenty secondary school students from Perak had their first taste of Terengganu recently, as part of the Tourism Ministry's Student Tourism Programme. The Form Three and Four students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent in Ipoh were among 320 students from all over the country chosen to spend five days in the state.

After their arrival on Tuesday, SMK Convent group leader Yarsini Murugiah, 16, said as much as they wanted to explore the city, they had to prepare for a tourism quiz and the "Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia" dance competition.

"We also have an Explorace at the state museum and all of us will be taking part in a beach clean-up at Batu Buruk.

"We are up to every challenge. We have our school's reputation to uphold, and come Friday night, we want to be up on stage accepting the prizes," she said at a dinner reception hosted by the state government on Wednesday.

Her schoolmate, Phyliss Teh, also 16, said she had already fallen in love with local delicacies such as nasi dagang, nasi kuning, laksa Terengganu and keropok lekor.

"I am sure there are other local dishes out there and I want to try them all."

Her friend, Amirah Jalaluddin, 16, said all the participants had been too busy to venture out and see the attractions around the city.

In his speech, state Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib said: "The youth of today will become the tourists of tomorrow and there is no better time than now to introduce them to our tourism products."