Revitalising historical edutourism through outdoor learning experience in Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang

There has been an increased awareness of the benefits of nature for educational purposes. With regards to learning about history and culture, outdoor learning experience (OLE) can be a promising method to augment learning experiences. However, implementing the outdoor learning concepts becomes challenging for most historical sites due to the need for conservation and preservation. At the same time, unpredictable natural phenomenon such as flooding can further deteriorate the historical assets. In the case of Nibong Tebal, historical buildings and cultural practices are currently underappreciated as heritage assets. Without heritage preservation efforts or tourism initiatives, these assets are susceptible to neglect and decay, hence leading to a potential loss of traditions. This research aims to explore historical outdoor learning concepts to promote the heritage of Nibong Tebal for edutourism. The objectives are: (i) to study how the concept of OLE experience can be adopted using natural and built assets, (ii) to highlight the historical value of Nibong Tebal, and (iii) to propose strategies to restore the ecological value of the town. The methods include collecting data from online and face-to-face survey questionnaires, online interviews and site observation. The finding revealed that there is a potential to establish an outdoor learning space with some improvements on the natural and built assets of the town. In conclusion, the outdoor learning experiences at historical places can contribute to the planning and design guidelines to make nature part of the teaching tools to enhance one's learning experiences.