1. arriving at Casuarina@Meru, Medan delegates are served Ipoh’s famous white coffee by the hotel’s Assistant Front Office Manager Brandon Ahmad
At the invitation of YOU Wings and supported by the state tourism offices in Perak and Terengganu, top travel agents and heads of travel organisations from the North Sumatran city of Medan visited Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu for a total of 5Ds/4Ns in early October.
2. at the official welcoming dinner-cum-announcement of Ipoh – Medan direct flight operated by YOU Wings for Sriwijaya Air
The fact-finding mission was a run-up to the maiden direct flights of Kuala Terengganu-Medan and Ipoh-Medan on 24th and 25th November respectively, operated by YOU Wings for Sriwijaya Air.
3. night shopping at Gerbang Malam
The objective of the familiarisation trip was to provide first-hand experience to these major players of the tourism industry from Medan, Indonesia, to facilitate them in drawing up travel packages to Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu for their clients back home.
4. official photos of the delegation (clockwise from top left) to Casuarina@ Meru, to KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital, at the conclusion of a business matching session and at Kek Lok Tong
At the official welcoming dinner in Ipoh hosted by Perak state, a special announcement was made on the inaugural flight of Ipoh-Medan that will commence this November 25.
Served by a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with a capacity of 168 passengers, there will be four flights weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The promotional fare is RM99 one way all-in. Tickets are already on sale at the website of Sriwijaya Air at www.sriwijayaair.co.id
5. photo shoot in front of the Ipoh Railway Station and City Hall
Ipoh is beginning to explore medical tourism and will try to divert the attention of Medan holiday-makers from hospitals and specialist centres in Kuala Lumpur and Penang with attractively priced health and wellness packages.
6. chilling out at the Lost World of Tambun
To this end, these Medan delegates were given the opportunity to see for themselves top-of-the-line medical facilities offered by three major hospitals in the city, namely Pantai Hospital Ipoh, KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital and Hospital Fatimah.
7. arriving at Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu
Spending just two short days in Ipoh, the Medan delegates were taken to Gerbang Malam for a night shopping tour and to the Lost World of Tambun for rest and recreation, after a business matching session where they had the chance to meet up with representatives from local hotels, hospitals and travel agencies for possible future collaboration.
8. host hotel, Primula Beach Resort at Kuala Terengganu
Both Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu, located on the opposite coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, offer different experiences to visitors, and can cater to the various markets of Medan tourists.
9. visiting Terengganu State Museum
So, it was no wonder that these Medan tour agents gave the thumbs up for Ipoh as well as Kuala Terengganu.
10. visiting Islamic Civilisation Park in Kuala Terengganu
While Ipoh is a vibrant and modern city, Kuala Terengganu is more laid-back. Despite having to get out of bed at the ungodly hour of 4am for their flight to the East Coast state, many delegates were enthusiastic about their first trip to Kuala Terengganu, famous around the world for its pristine beaches.
11. mini travel mart at the Islamic Civilisation Park in Kuala Terengganu
After a brief stop at the Terengganu State Museum, the largest museum in Malaysia, delegates were taken on a tour of the Islamic Civilisation Park (Taman Tamdun Islam) in Puala Wan Man.
I’d say that with more than 20 great replicas of Islamic monuments from around the world reminiscing the rise of Islam into a sophisticated global religion, TTI is the pride of the state.
12. enjoying the Taman Tamadun Islam dining cruise
Taman Tamadun Islam was also the venue of a mini travel mart, where Medan delegates were given the chance to quickly exchange business contacts with their counterparts in Kuala Terengganu, again for possible future partnerships in catering to vacationers both in Kuala Terengganu and Medan.
13. visiting Lake Kenyir and its Kelah Sanctuary
The delegation was subsequently treated to a dining cruise offered by TTI River Cruise. Known as TTI Dining Cruise, it is a new tourism product.
The river cruise takes approximately 1.5 hours, and diners have the option to select from a menu of six main courses. Catering to a minimum group of 20 pax, the price is RM49 per adult and RM45 per child.
14. lunch at Petang Island Resort
It is said that a trip to Kuala Terengganu is incomplete without visiting Lake Kenyir, and rightly so. The largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia spanning almost 210,000 hectares, it has plenty to offer nature lovers and adventurers.
15. Kenyir Elephant Village (KEV)
Although the delegation of 30-odd people spent a limited time at the Lake and had to forgo a visit to the Herb Island and Orchid Park, they managed to have some refreshing fun at the Kelah (freshwater fish) Sanctuary.
16. state welcoming dinner hosted by the Menteri Besar of Terengganu
That was followed by lunch at Petang Island Resort and then a visit to Kenyir Elephant Village (KEV) located nearby at Temelong River. The eight elephants at the Village perform to visitors daily. Admission is RM30 per adult and RM15 per child.
17. photo shoot at Tengku Tengah Zaharah floating mosque
As night fell, it was time to head back to the hotel, Primula Beach Resort, for a state-hosted official dinner, which was also attended by players of the tourism industry in both North America and Europe.
Graced by the Menteri Besar of Terengganu YAB Dato’ Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd Rahman, who incidentally writes his own blog at ybrazif.blogspot.com, it was a formal function with guests dressed in their best.
18. a visit to Noor Arfa Craft Complex (NACC)
That being the final night spent in Kuala Terengganu, the Medan delegates also networked with fellow guests from North America and Europe. Perhaps, there could be an avenue to work together?
19. checking out Turtle Alley
Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, and then Medan, the group made a city tour, visiting the Tengku Tengah Zaharah floating mosque, Noor Arfa Craft Complex (NACC), Turtle Alley, Kuala Terengganu Chinatown and Pasar Payang.
As you can see, most of these stops were for shopping! Terengganu batik, keropok lekor (fish crackers), longkong (fruit), you name it, they bought it!
20. Chinatown walkabout
Lunch was hosted by TH Hotel & Convention, after an obligatory hotel inspection. The hotel graciously presented a surprise birthday cake to Ibu Suci Mazira Karmen, who celebrated her 22nd birthday that day.
Zira is from the media and provided coverage on the delegation’s activities in Malaysia on Sindo Trijaya FM Radio.
21. shopping at Pasar Payang
Soon, it was time to leave for the Sultan Mahmud Airport, just 5 minutes’ drive from TH Hotel, to catch a flight to KLIA2, and henceforth home to Medan. After spending five days together, saying farewell was difficult.
22. lunch stop at TH Hotel & Convention
Cliché as it may sound, “We met as strangers, and parted as friends.” Till we meet again, in Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu, Medan, or wherever our paths take us.
23. farewell to Medan delegates at Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu
Event: Familiarisation Trip to Ipoh & Kuala Terengganu by Medan Delegates
Venue: Ipoh & Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
Date: 8th – 12th October, 2014
*Photos by Emily2U and YOU Wings
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