Geoentrepreneur Module Elevates Quality Of Lenggong Geopark Entrepreneurs

LENGGONG, June 6 (Bernama) -- The Entrepreneur Course Module, under the GeoEntrepreneur Programme of Lenggong Geopark, is the first geopark entrepreneur development module in the country aimed at strengthening the capacity of tourism and service industry players in the area.

The Lenggong Geocommunity Committee chairman Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that the initiative is another significant achievement after Lenggong became the first geopark in the country to introduce the GeoSchool module previously.

He said GeoEntrepreneur was developed to enhance the skills and quality of local entrepreneurs in various sectors including accommodation, food, transportation, event management and tourism services.

"This is the first GeoEntrepreneur module in Malaysia. There is no geopark in this country that has a module like this.

"Previously, we launched GeoSchool and became the first geopark to have that module. This time we are building another module to improve the quality of local entrepreneurs so that they can offer the best services to tourists," he said.

Shamsul Anuar said this to reporters after the launch of the GeoEntrepreneur Lenggong UNESCO Global Geopark, officiated by the Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad at the Dewan Merdeka here today.

Shamsul Anuar, who is also the Deputy Home Affairs Minister and the Member of Parliament for Lenggong, said that the programme emphasises the development of community-based tourism entrepreneurs to meet the demands of tourists who are increasingly inclined towards authentic and nature-based experiences.

According to him, although Lenggong does not have many four or five-star hotels, the area has great potential through resorts, chalets, and homestays that offer unique experiences to visitors.

Tourists, especially from the West, are more attracted to the natural atmosphere that varies from one destination to another.

"Therefore, we want to ensure that local entrepreneurs are able to provide high-quality facilities and services even if they are not in the form of international standard hotels," he said.

He said that through the programme, a tourism directory will be created to facilitate visitors in obtaining information related to accommodations, food locations, tourism products, and interesting activities in Lenggong through the use of a Quick Response (QR) code system.

He said that the development of GeoEntrepreneur is also part of Lenggong's preparations to host various international events, including the Lenggong Dialogue scheduled to take place in December.

In the meantime, he said his team plans to patent the GeoEntrepreneur module to ensure it becomes the intellectual property of the Lenggong UNESCO Global Geopark.

He also said that the step is important to protect the modules developed through local expertise and to enable Lenggong to emerge as a reference centre for geopark entrepreneur training in the country.

"Many representatives from other geoparks have come to Lenggong to study the module we have developed. That's why we want to patent GeoEntrepreneur so that it remains the property of Lenggong Geopark," he added.

-- BERNAMA