From July 23 to 27, a group comprising of members of media and travel agencies from Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur flown to Taiwan for a visit to Muslim-Friendly Leisure Farms, a special new travel package to attract Muslim tourists.
Representative from New Sarawak Tribune was not left behind to follow the trip to take a closer look at the farm management operations that emphasise hospitality, hygiene and health, all according to the guidelines set out to ensure that every farm or business premises are Muslim-Friendly.
The sponsor and organiser of this visit was Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association (TLFDA) in partnership with Let Fun Management Sdn Bhd, who is responsible for marketing and promoting these tourism products in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Taiwan and Japan.
TLFDA
TLFDA was founded by owners of leisure farms as a non-profit organisation in 1998 under the Civil Organisations Act, so as to assist upgrading the agriculture into leisure farms and at the same time, to serve as the bridge connecting the academic, government and the industry together promoting the development of leisure agriculture in Taiwan.
Moreover, while driving the development of agricultural economics forward, the TLFDA also carries the responsibilities associated with social education and environmental protection, assuring stability and sustainability of farm villages to create greater social values.
The TLFDA sustains the value of farm villages, share their knowledge and pass on the power of happiness, inspiring to shape Taiwan’s farms into travel destinations and transforming them into a lifestyle of choice.
By doing so, it is hoped that youths will return to the countryside, farmers may regain their pride and rural villages continue on with their culture.
In addition, the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan Leisure Agriculture Association and the TLFDA joined forces by forming the Service Quality Certification Committee, so as to promote the one and only certification system in Asia.
Agritourism
Agritourism is a combination of agriculture and tourism. Making use of idyllic landscapes, natural ecology and environmental resources, Agritourism provides tourists with alternative choices like picking fruits at tourist farms, savouring local food at restaurants, staying at countryside Bed and Breakfast (B&Bs) as well as joining thematic village activities during their vacation trips.
Leisure farms in Taiwan are of a strong natural style and are often high on foreign visitors’ must-go list.
What makes Taiwan’s leisure farms really fun is that you are free to join the thematic activities they hold such as picking wild vegetables, catching fish and shrimps, pedaling water mills, grilling sweet potatoes, harvesting rice and picking chicken eggs.
By immersing in nature, experiencing farm life and learning about local villages, visitors shall experience Taiwan like never before- especially when embraced by a blue sky and a green field full of blooming flowers.
The Journey Begin
Five media representatives and six tourism agencies namely Miri Borneo Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd; Ecogreen Holidays Sdn Bhd Kuching; Ibanika Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd Kuching; Queensway Travel Sdn Bhd Sibu; Intercontinental Travel Center Sdn Bhd and Via Vacation and Travel Sdn Bhd headed by Let Fun Management Sdn Bhd Director Desmond Liew Shin Khen departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) 1 to Taipei using Eva Air aircraft, the international Taiwan airline.
The flight takes approximately 4 hours 40 minutes to arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport located in the northern part of Taiwan.
For Muslim passengers, Eva Air serves halal dishes such as fish spaghetti and chicken rice served with salads, bun, fruit and a slice of cake. In addition, snacks such as nuts and rice crackers as well as various types of drinks choices are also available.
The airline also has a halal food kitchen that also supplies food to several Middle East airlines.
Our group’s arrival at the airport was greeted by representative from TLFDA Calem Ngan and we were taken to stay at City Suites Taoyuan Gateway which is only a three-minute drive from Taoyuan International Airport.
City Suites Taoyuan Gateway is a world-class business hotel in Taoyuan Dayuan District. With simplistic tasteful designs as well as elegant and high quality furnishing, the hotel provides worldwide transit passengers, businesspersons and tour groups with a modern and comfortable accommodation environment.
“With soft lighting on wallpapers, the guestrooms offer a warm, modern and aesthetics space as well as exquisite amenities and high-end bedding to ensure that all guests can relax in an elegant atmosphere.”
“The hotel is only three minutes drive from Taoyuan International Airport and 10 minutes from Qinpu Station of High Speed Rail. It is right next to National Highway No.1 and it takes only 40 minutes to Taipei City.”
“The hotel has 174 guestrooms and offers dining, event and conference services. The Conference Centre is equipped with projector and multimedia equipment for all kinds of events and business meetings,” said Assistant General Manager of City Suites Taoyuan Gateway James Hsieh.
Moreover, he said, in order to encourage the arrival of tourists especially Muslims to stay in their hotel, the hotel has received halal certification certificates from the Chinese Muslim Association (CMA) in 2009 namely, Muslim Friendly Restaurant, Muslim Friendly Tourism Hotel and Taiwan Tour-Group Specialty Restaurant.
“In addition to the halal menu, we also provide a prayer hall in the lobby. If there are many members of congregation then, we will open a bigger space in the meeting room that can accommodate up to 600 people,” he explained, adding from 11 hotel chains, only Taoyuan and Taipei Nandong chains have the CMA’s halal certificates.
Rated four-star, the hotel also has vending machines for drinks and snacks and customers are also offered free laundry services.
During dinner, we were served with the famous Taiwan Beef Noodles and Kung Pao Beef as well as other Taiwan cuisines.
Day 1
The tour begins from the western part of Taiwan called Miaoli District by visiting Zhuo Ye Cottage Farm which is a one-and-a-half hour drive from City Suites Taoyuan Gateway.
The area is inhabited by the Hakka community and is famous for the spring of Tung, a kind of white flower that blooms in May each year as well as being famous for its woodworks.
At Zhuo Ye Cottage Farm, we were given the opportunity in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) activity by making indigo dyeing on a handkerchief.
Indigo dye is an organic compound with blue colour extracted from Malan leaves and it is used to color patterns on clothes, fabrics, scarves, handkerchiefs, bags and others.
Before starting the activity, we have been told about the manufacturing process of indigo dyeing and how to make patterns on our handkerchief. Our group takes about an hour to complete the indigo dyeing. During lunch time, we were served with variety of vegetarian meals.
Assistant Vice President of Zhuo Ye Cottage Farm Eason Hsieh when met said, apart from DIY activities, visitors can also stay in the rooms available at the Farm and can enjoy a variety of delicious dishes prepared by their restaurant which also has obtained halal certificates.
The Farm has 15 types of rooms each with its own design. In addition, there are more than 10 types of vegetables and fruits planted along the hillside.
Operating for 13 years, the Farm is available for visits from 9am to 9.30pm.
Commenting on the indigo dyeing business, Eason explained, the demands was sometimes over the production capacity.
“To produce a piece of indigo dyed cloth with a length of 45m, it took about three to four days to complete.
“In this Farm, we have planted eight hectares of Malan leaves where harvest will be done in early and mid-year,” he explained, adding that he would also go to China to seek business partners in the hopes of boosting production and expanding business markets.
To be Continued…
