News on Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

obmar · News on Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary

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Kuala Gandah, Pahang, 10 June 2008 - Tourism Minister, YB Dato' Sri Azalina Dato' Othman Said launched Zoom! Malaysia at the state level of Pahang today at the National Elephant Conservation Centre, Kuala Gandah, Lanchang, Temerloh.

This is the first state launch in Pahang since Zoom! Malaysia was launched previously at a national level by Prime Minister, YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 14 May 2008 at Saloma Bistro, Tourism Malaysia Centre, Jalan Ampang.

The campaign urges Malaysians to give priority to local holiday destinations and encourages them to look at their country from a fresh perspective.

The National Elephant Conservation Centre at Kuala Gandah was chosen as the launching pad of Zoom! Malaysia Pahang because it is a unique ecotourism spot - attracting its many visitors to appreciate nature and to get up close and personal with the elephants.

According to YB Dato' Sri Azalina Dato' Othman Said, conservation centres like Kuala Gandah needs to be promoted more aggressively because not only is it a source of revenue for the country, but it also plays an important role in nature and animal conservation. "It has a great potential in being an appealing tourist destination with wholesome activities for the whole family," she said.

The Tourism Minister participated in various eco-friendly activities at Kuala Gandah including feeding, riding and even bathing the elephants. Prior to that, the Tourism Minister and her team visited the 12-acre Deerland for an hour where they hand-fed the deers as well as a sun bear called Hitam.

Background Information on Zoom! Malaysia

Zoom! Malaysia is a continuous domestic travel campaign with the aim of encouraging Malaysians to travel locally during their holidays. With Zoom! Malaysia, the Tourism Ministry through its agency Tourism Malaysia will give special focus on travel destinations within the country. Tourism Malaysia is gradually shifting their travel campaign to re-align it fully with Zoom!

According to the Dewan dictionary, Zoom means, firstly "... to give a more detailed view...", secondly, "...to move or glide while making a sound (like a car) and to fly or ascend sharply (like an aeroplane)...". Whereas the New Oxford dictionary defines Zoom as "to move or go somewhere very fast".