WITH THANKS: Councillor Simpson Njok (right) presenting a souvenir to Sagan. Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau is seen at second left.
MARUDI: Upper Baram folk, in areas such as Long San and Lio Mato, should get involved in the tourism industry.
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, who made the suggestion, said this was in line with the government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
“Ulu Baram has many strategic places that can be tourist spots with clean waterfalls and environment, it also has interesting Orang Ulu culture, colourful costumes from the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities, handicrafts and others,” he said.
He suggested tourism products be developed involving visits to natural attractions, traditional hunting with blow pipes, Orang Ulu traditional marriages, dances and boats. Sagan also encouraged the people to apply for the homestay programme.
“Tourists like to stay in the homestays as the charges are much lower compared to the starred hotels,” he said when opening the Kedaya Telang Usan Community Development Seminar at Long Silat longhouse recently.
Themed ‘Moving Towards A High Income Community in Kedaya Telang Usan’, the seminar was jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Long Silat village security and development committee (JKKK).
Over 200 residents from the area attended the seminar.
Tourism is one of the industries to be developed under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Sagan also presented minor rural project (MRP) grants to the Long Jeeh JKKK (RM100,000), seminar organising committee (RM30,000), Long Silat JKKK (RM20,000) and Long Salwan JKKK (RM10,000).