Tour Guides Educated About Country’s Religious Diversity

October 16, 2005

Source: Bernama

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=160815

On October 16, 2005 Bernama reported, "When was the first Thaipusam festival held at Batu Caves? When were the steps into the temple -- perched high up in the limestone caves -- built? Who built the Hindu place of worship that yearly attracts millions of devotees and tourists from the world over? The answers to these and other questions are facts that the 7,000 or so tourist guides in the country must know. This is because tourism should not be just viewed as a foreign exchange earner but an opportunity to promote Malaysia's diverse cultural, religious and ethnic heritage to visitors. With this objective in mind, the Ministry of Tourism has initiated a continuous tourism related education programme (CTRE) for tourist guides. The aim is to produce better tourist guides who keep abreast of information on tourist sites and products so that they can educate visitors about Malaysia's religious diversity."