KENYIR GEOPARK FESTIVAL A PLATFORM TO BOOST RURAL TOURISM ECOSYSTEM

KUALA BERANG, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The Kenyir Geopark Festival 2025 organised by the Central Terengganu Development Authority (KETENGAH) in collaboration with the Terengganu government serves as a platform to strengthen the rural tourism ecosystem and promote Tasik Kenyir as the country’s premier geopark tourism destination ahead of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Datuk Rubiah Wang said the festival, themed “Menyusuri Panorama Tasik” (Exploring the Lake’s Panorama), runs for three days beginning today and is expected to generate an economic return of RM1.2 million with a target attendance of 60,000 visitors.

She said the event is also one of KETENGAH’s initiatives to boost the number of tourists visiting the lake, which previously exceeded 800,000 annually.

“Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tasik Kenyir received more than 800,000 visitors a year, both local and international. However, the numbers declined after the pandemic. There has been an upward trend since 2023, and as of this year, visitor numbers have already exceeded 300,000,” she told reporters after officiating the festival at Pulau Poh, Tasik Kenyir, near here today.

Also present were Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris and KETENGAH general manager Datuk Tengku Ahmad Nadzri Tengku Musa.

Rubiah said the organisation of the Kenyir Geopark Festival 2025 not only supports the goal of attracting one million visitors to Tasik Kenyir next year but also aligns with the VMY 2026 campaign, which targets 35.6 million international tourists across the country.

She added that the festival demonstrates the significant commercial potential of rural areas and reflects the commitment of all parties to making rural regions a driver of national development.

She said this year’s festival, the first since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights three main concepts- Natural Eco-tourism, Heritage and Culture, and Local Gastronomy.

“These concepts strengthen Tasik Kenyir’s identity as a rural tourism destination that combines natural beauty, cultural richness and local flavours, positioning it as a sustainable and competitive community tourism gem.

“At the same time, the festival helps raise awareness about environmental and biodiversity conservation while fostering community unity, pride and responsibility towards their natural and cultural heritage,” she said.

She added that the festival is also expected to stimulate various economic activities through increased entrepreneurship, accommodation, transport services and community product sales.

A total of eight main programmes comprising 64 activities are lined up throughout the festival, including traditional games, water sports, entrepreneur and Rahmah MADANI sales, cultural and stage performances, and interactive exhibitions.

In another development, Rubiah said in conjunction with VMY 2026, KKDW fully supports the government’s initiative to position the tourism sector as a key driver of economic growth, particularly in rural areas.

She said the Desa Kirana@KKDW Programme serves as an important platform to strengthen sustainable, inclusive and high-value rural tourism.

“So far, 21 villages nationwide have been selected to participate in the Desa Kirana@KKDW Programme, which acts as the main catalyst for rural tourism development in the run-up to VMY 2026.

“The programme packages existing rural tourism attractions with potential into a comprehensive tourism experience, allowing tourists to enjoy all these attractions in an integrated manner. It focuses on five key elements — heritage and culture, natural attractions, local gastronomy, traditional products and village lifestyle experiences.

“For Terengganu, Tasik Kenyir is a tangible manifestation of this concept, where tourists not only enjoy the natural beauty and biodiversity but also experience the warmth of local hospitality through homestays, houseboats and community-based tourism activities,” she said.

-- BERNAMA