PUTRAJAYA: A total of 15 media representatives from print, broadcast and online platforms will join the five-day Ekspresi Media Kelantan 2020 programme organised by Tourism Malaysia from July 16 to 20. The programme aims to forge and maintain closer relationship with the media while encouraging them to promote best places and current tourist destinations in Kelantan.
The programme is the first Tourism Malaysia’s organised trip in compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the practice of new normal during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) this year that will include elements of sightseeing, hands-on experiences and product briefings by industry players.
Ekspresi Media programme works based on the concept of interactive and experiential tour whereby participants will be actively involved in the tourism activities, not only the highlight of popular tourist attractions but also the culture, heritage, foods as well as community-based tourism.
This fourth edition is also organised in collaboration with Kelantan state government after successful implementation of Ekspresi Media Kenyir, Ekspresi Media Lembah Bujang and Ekspresi Media Kinabalu last year.
The participants will start exploring ecotourism segment adventure by taking part in zip line activity across 180 metre with scenic backdrops of Che Tahir Mountain and Sungai Batu Waterfall at Jelawang Pipe Resort & Extreme Park, uncovering 150-year old limestone cave at Ikan Cave Complex as well as quick tubing excursion down the Kenerong River in Dabong.
At Kota Bharu, the media will experience cruising on the traditional fishing boat ‘perahu kolek’ down the Pengkalan Datu River before visiting 200-year old heritage house, Senok Beach (Nami Beach) in Bachok, Ar-Rahman Mosque in Pulau Gajah and witness fisherman’s village, lighthouse as well as local community activities including palm sap harvesting and freshwater clams digging.
The media will enjoy traditional trishaw ride around the city, appreciate street arts and visit traditional Wayang Kulit Kelantan Gallery in Morak Village – the famous reference centre for shadow puppet theatre plus Ayu Batik Fashion Workshop in Talak Village which houses more than 5,000 batik block prints.
At Tumpat, the media will take boat ride to Pantai Suri Floating Market, the first of its kind in Malaysia before heading to watch demonstration of making kuih kapit and rooster crowing besides visiting rural business industry including local production of serunding, dodol and kuih gelembung buaya.
In conjunction with Ekspresi Media Kelantan 2020 this year, there is also a visit to Collectibles Museum – the first Diecast Museum in Malaysia and the first toys museum in Kelantan.
“We hope the sharing of fascinating experiences by the media will spark the promotion of domestic tourism in the social media especially on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and the blog, thus encouraging people to travel in supporting our Cuti-Cuti Malaysia (CCM) campaign especially during this recovery period of COVID-19,” said Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Musa Yusof.
