Souvenirs Made Out Of Recycled Items Drawing Local, Foreign Tourists To Mersing

MERSING, July 24 (Bernama) -- Bottle caps and used boxes that are usually discarded are now being processed by the local community into attractive souvenirs such as keychains and fridge magnets, which have become a tourist attraction for both domestic and international visitors.

Mersing Souvenir House manager Ahmad Firdaus Shaik Omar, 43, said the creativity of local residents is showcased through the 'Mersing Souvenir House' (MSH) initiative, which was established through a RM100,000 SejaTi MADANI initiative grant.

He said that most villages focus on the agro and livestock sectors, but this group is to be different by showcasing Mersing's identity through handicrafts and souvenirs with a marine life theme.

“We chose to highlight products such as keychains, caps, T-shirts, and fridge magnets featuring marine life and the identity of Mersing. Besides that, visitors can also go home with something unique that represents this area," he told reporters at the Kampung Air Puteri MSH here recently.

Ahmad Firdaus, who is also the Mersing Tourism Association (MTA) secretary, said the project, which began in October last year and has been actively promoted since February, also organises craft workshops and interactive activities for visitors, including school students, in the district.

According to him, all MSH products are produced entirely by the local community, including people with disabilities (PWDs) and the asnaf, who indirectly benefit economically from the demand for these products.

"MSH is not just a craft centre but a social enterprise that generates income and creates employment opportunities. So far, we have six permanent staff, including five local community women.

“We also plan to establish a recycling centre to expand the production of creative products such as wall clocks and airplane models, all using waste material ... in addition to hoping to get sponsorship for a recycling machine to improve production efficiency. For now, we still rely on the workforce and creativity of the residents," he said.

According to him, on July 18, his team received a visit from 20 students from France, aged between 15 and 18, and they were shown how to make turtle replicas and caps from recycled materials. They were also exposed to playing traditional games like gasing.

"The two-hour programme was not only fun but also exposed them to our culture while ensuring environmental sustainability," he added.

-- BERNAMA