By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 29: The first Chinese eco-educational tour consisting of a scientist, 10 students and their parents will arrive in Sarawak on July 16.
Chen Rui, a zoologist of the Institute of Zoology and also the general director of the Paleo Diary Science Club in China said following the first tour, there will be many more to come, based on the same model until the end of August, which is the period of China’s summer school break.
“They will be more tours following which may come one after another, or it may be many tours at the same time. But basically, a tour will consist of a scientist, 10 students and their parents,” said Chen during a press conference held at Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) today.
Chen said the students joining the first tour are the top students of China who are young scientists whom he believed, like other Chinese students, will be very enthusiastic because of a book on Malaysia which is made part of the syllabus for Chinese primary and secondary schools.
Chen’s colleague, Su Qiafan, who is a botanist of the Institute of Botany and Academy of Science added that for this first eco-educational tour which will stretch for seven days, the target destinations will include Mas Gading National Park, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Bako National Park, Santubong National Park and Kubah National Park.
Meanwhile, apart from organising eco-tours for the students, Chen said the team will also be planning for trips for two more demographic groups, namely the elderly and adult premium tours.
He said the team is looking at Malaysia especially Sarawak because after Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a change in travel taste where most prefer to visit countries with natural beauty and scenery instead of man-made structures and buildings.
Among the many places in Malaysia, Sarawak has been listed as the top choice due to the existence of biodiversity and the complexity of species in its flora and fauna, some only endemic to Sarawak.
“Sarawak is unique. There are some familiarities and some unfamiliar territories. For the familiarity part, we can see Chinese characters everywhere, and there are many who can speak Mandarin. This makes us feel very comfortable.
“On the unfamiliar territories, Sarawak has the second largest rainforest in the world in terms of area size, just next to the Amazon.
“Its rainforest has a wide range of flora and fauna, with some endemic to the place. Sarawak can be a global exploration hotspot due to its biodiversity,” said Chen.
In anticipation of enthusiastic response, Chen said the Paleo Diary Science Team has reached a strategic collaboration with AirAsia where a few hundred seats have been reserved and booked. — DayakDaily
