Trans Borneo adventurer gets sponsorship from AIC
KOTA KINABALU: Trans Borneo 2017 yesterday received the entry of the Young Trans Borneo Adventurer (YTBA) Akhmar Asraf Khan Bin Ayub Khan, 25, into the event.
Akhmar Asraf is a third year student at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in the Tourism Management program in the Faculty of Business, Economics, & Accounting who is currently undergoing industrial training at the Borneo Tourism Research Centre UMS.
Anuar Ghani, representing North Borneo Explorer Sdn Bhd, received the sponsorship from Stephanie Yen, Chief Executive Officer of Almacrest Training Academy Sdn Bhd.
Akhmar Asraf was selected by the Borneo Tourism Research Centre UMS to be a participant in this event.
He is sponsored jointly by Almacrest Training Academy Centre and the Royal Institute of Singapore.
Anuar Ghani said that the YTBA program was part of the event's contribution towards youth development by bringing young people into the event with assigned duties with the aim of giving them first hand exposure at handling and coordinating events and tours.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity which can be life changing,” he added.
He said he spoke from experience.
After coming back to Sabah in 1987, he took part in the Trans Borneo 1989, a 10-day adventure from Sabah to Kuching and he got to see Sabah and Sarawak including Mulu Caves up-close.
He said: “It was quite an adventure after being so long away from the state and after that, I was bitten by the bug and wanted to see more of Borneo. It was a life changing experience. I got involved in 4X4 and organized the first and second circumnavigation of Borneo Island in 1996 & 1997. I am sure it will be the same for Akhmar”.
Akhmar says that he is very excited about taking part in this event.
“I have no experience in this kind of event and I am looking forward to join this event. The duties that were given to me will sharpen my skills on what I learned in UMS,” says Akhmar.
His duties are assisting the in-house reporter in making daily reports on the event, giving information to the media and journalists, arranging room and accommodations for participants, assisting the chuck wagon, and arranging the closing dinner.
Akhmar Asraf is one of the two youths who have been selected for the YTBA and the other youth that is selected to be the YTBA in automotive sector from Kolej Teknikal Yayasan Sabah, Ricko Kerifley bin Marual, 24.
This event offers the opportunity for the YTBA in automotive sector to gain experience from the challenges in the event by doing field repairs on the ground.
“One week in the field, maintaining and repairing the cars, is equivalent to a year in the classroom,” says Anuar Ghani.
The most challenging sector is Day 9-12 when the convoy covers 260km from Malinau to Ba'kelalan fording three rivers, steep hills, mud-holes, broken roads, and building bridges – The Last Frontier in Borneo.
This is an excellent program to expose tourism students in terms of preparing, exposing and strengthening their necessary softskills, ultimately making them to become a more holistic graduate, according to Prof Dr Jennifer and Ms Stephanie Yen, chief executive officer of Almacrest International College (AIC) in a joint statement issued yesterday.
“The program covers a range of visitation to key tourism sites in three countries and offer opportunities to engage with different local communities, gain real personal life experiences to in term of planning, organizing, and operating tour activities, working as team with foreign journalists and locals as well as collecting data throughout the expedition, thus enable the student to apply what he has learnt during the courses into practice.
“More importantly, the student will acquire more indepth knowledge and better understanding about the key resources and attractions of each destination in particular cultural, historical, agriculture, adventure and nature activities found throughout Borneo.
“This gives rise to the different perspectives and outlook about the heart of Borneo.
“New tourism products and attractions can be developed and promoted to stimulate the economic growth, create positive impacts to the local communities,” Jennifer and Stephanie said.
“As the Director of Borneo Tourism Research Centre, I regard this is indeed an opportunity for the Borneo Tourism Research Centre to collaborate and partner with tourism businesses and adventure organizations to provide quality training on site for this UMS tourism student.
“One of the BTRC's objectives is to jointly organize or host relevant training, workshops and seminars related to current issues or trend in tourism and hospitality, beside enhancing excellence in research and publication.
“I am grateful to the two sponsors – Royal Institute of Singapore and Almacrest International College (AIC) to provide financial assistance for Akhmar Asraf, one of the BTRC's practical training students to join the program and event.
“The sponsorship is part of the corporate social responsibility practice from Royal Institute Singapore to support the development of quality human resource in tourism; and the vision of AIC to support and recognize the need and importance of exposing student to real life training; and contribute to local youth development in tourism industry.”
Borneo Tourism Research Centre aims to provide more opportunities through industry collaboration and partnership to enhance the quality of tourism human capital development.
The Trans Borneo 2017 expedition is organized by North Borneo Explorer Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and PT Java Adventura (Indonesia) and endorsed and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, Sabah State Government, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Sarawak, General Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah State Security, Sarawak State Security, Malaysian Immigration Department, Sarawak, Markas Briged Kelima Infantri Malaysia, Brunei Four Wheel Drive Association, and supported and sponsored by BIMP-EAGA Business Council, Society Empowerment & Economic Development of Sabah (SEEDS), Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, the Ministry of Youth & Sport Sabah, Tropika (Luxury Yacht Charter), YB Datuk Ewon Ebin, YB Datuk Bung Mokhtar, Balung River Eco-Resort, and Narva.