Tourism is
travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the
provision of services to support this leisure travel. The World Tourism
Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay
in places outside their usual environment for not more than one
consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to
the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".
Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2006, there
were over 842 million international tourist arrivals.
Tourism is vital for many
countries, due to the income generated by the consumption of goods and
services by tourists, the taxes levied on businesses in the tourism
industry, and the opportunity for employment in the service industries
associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation
services such as cruise ships and taxis, accommodation such as hotels,
restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and other hospitality
industry services such as spas and resorts.
Terengganu (Jawi: ترڠڬانو, formerly spelled Trengganu
or Tringganu) is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal
Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman
("Abode of Faith"). The coastal city of Kuala Terengganu which stands at
the mouth of the broad Terengganu River is both the state and royal
capital as well as the largest city in Terengganu.
About Terengganu
Terengganu is located at
the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. To the north there lies the
Kelantan state, then neigbouring with Pahang at the south.
History
History of Terengganu began
long before the establishment of Melaka sultanate. The archaeological
evidences found in Bewah Cave in Kenyir Lake proven that this state has
already been resided since 4,000 B.C. However, the Sultanate of
Terengganu began only in 1724 with Sultan Zainal Abidin as the first
sultan for this state.
During the early sultanate
period, although Siam claimed that Terengganu was part of its dominion
resulted from the Bunga Emas and Bunga Perak sent by the latter in every
3 years, it was said that the gift was actually a present of courtesy
and token of friendship but not tributes as to prevent the interference
of British in the state’s administration. Siam handed over Terengganu to
British in 1909 after signing the Bangkok Agreement but this was
rejected by Terengganu. Another agreement was then signed between
Terengganu and British in 1910 and thereafter Terengganu officially
recognized the appointment of a British Representative with the
condition the British agent was not empowered to interfere in the
administration of the state. The British who was not satisfy with their
status continued to look for ways to get involve in the internal affairs
of the state. In 1919, their attempt finally succeeded. Another
agreement was signed between British and Sultan Muhammad. Terengganu
officially accepted a British advisor, seek and follow his counsels in
all administrative matters except religion issues.
Nevertheless, the
involvement of British had brought to resistance from the people. The
patriotic awareness had spread among the state and led to the
establishment of Association of Young Malays (Kesatuan Melayu Muda, KMM)
in 1937. A series of campaigns was held by KMM during 1940-1941. In 1942
when the Japanese took the control of Peninsular Malaysia, KMM was
dissolved and Terengganu was under the administration of Japanese Army
until 1943 when the governance authority was transferred to the Thai
Army. Thai administration remained in Terengganu until Japan conceded
defeat to the alliance in August 1945, then it was again back to the
hand of British until the Federation of Malaya achieved her independence
on 31 August 1957.