Can Malaysia's pungent, gassy durian be an incentive travel attraction? Durians are not for the faint-hearted tourist, its smell having been likened to gym socks with a hint of garlic. Yet visitors are timing their travels around the fruit's season and companies are paying big bucks for their top staff flying in to enjoy the fruit.Note: This interview will appeal more to durian fans and listeners comfortable with the Malaysian accent.Randolph Koh is a durian connoisseur who only buys durians by the truckload and only when it meets certain conditions.Mint Leong is the founder of Sunflower Holidays in Kuala Lumpur, specialising in incentive trips and tailor-made tours.Quotes From Episode"It is very strange, no matter what the smell, especially if you put it in the fridge, no matter what kind of durian (it is) you eventually will think that it is some kind of gas leak because it is actually gas.""Once they tasted our Malaysian durian, they were hooked on it. I had a Japanese friend who (jokingly) told my durian supplier that he was a drug dealer."-Randolph Koh"They were so surprised to see the durian hanging on the tree, they just took a lot of photos. We got some durians from the orchard and set up a very simple table and put some mats on the ground, helping them to open up the fruit ...This is how I started and the feedback was so good, we began to introduce it to incentive groups." "The largest (incentive) group that we've arranged for durians is about 5000 people at one time. We (had to collect) the durians from everywhere."-Mint LeongDon't miss:- Why durians are such a polarising fruit- Lethal combinations- Marrying Malaysian durians with technology has changed the export game - Creating durian incentives for 5,000 Chinese visitors- Glamming up the durian experience- Malaysia's mind and lung flushing activitiesPlaces Mentioned:>Randolph KohKuala Krau, Pahang for Musang KingNibong Tebal near Penang for Black Thorn(Note Bagan Serai was mistakenly mentioned instead )>Mint LeongVarious orchards in Bentong, RaubTurtle conservation in Kemaman, Terengganuwww.turtleconservationsociety.org.my/Sunflower Holidays (Malaysia)www.sunflowerholidays.com/en/home/Connect with Upon Arrival: Email: [email protected]

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