Remnants of ulama are latest Terengganu tourism products

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 20 -- The Terengganu State Government will further strengthen the Islamic tourism industry in the state by tracing the historical remnants of Islamic scholars, including those around the Islamic Civilisation Park (TTI) and the Terengganu River.

State Tourism, Culture and Information Technology Committee chairman Ariffin Deraman said among those to be highlighted were the house and surau left by an ulama and fighter who opposed the British colonialists around the 1920s, namely, Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong, in Kampung Beladau Kolam here.

“We need to do some researches and will discuss with the Terengganu State Museum about the house and surau left by Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong. We will turn this area into a tourism product and at the same time preserve the great name of Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong. ”

He said this to reporters during a working visit to track the locations of the history of Muslim scholars around Terengganu River and Nerus River, here, today.

He said at present the villagers had already carried out religious activities at the surau of Abdul Rahman Limbong such as a special ratib (repeated praise utterances) programme every week where it could be highlighted to tourists who cruise on the Terengganu River by boat.

Apart from that, he said, among those that could be promoted as one of the Islamic tourism products is the tomb of a famous scholar from Terengganu, namely, Sheikh Abdul Malek or better known as Tokku Pulau Manis, located in Pulau Manis, here.

He said tourists could also enjoy various community-based tourism products along the Terengganu River and Nerus River such as Pengkalan Banggol Cempedak and Kalang Warisan.

Meanwhile, Ariffin said a committee would be set up to co-ordinate tourism activities and packages available along the rivers.

"This committee will also co-ordinate tourism boat services provided by various parties here including TTI and 'Payang Water Taxi'," he said.

In another development, Ariffin said the influx of tourists to the state declined 20 per cent due to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had hit the country since late last month.

He said the decline in the number of tourists also occurred due to some resort operators on the resort islands discontinuing operations in the light of the monsoon season which is expected to occur soon.

“Data from MAH (Malaysian Hotel Association) records that Terengganu was in third place in hotel and home stay rates after Pahang and Perak in August. In June we were in third place, in July we were in second place. This shows that our record is still among the highest and Terengganu is still the destination of choice for tourists at this time, "he said.

-- BERNAMA