SERIOUS BUSINESS: The STF delegates at the 1st Borneo Tourism Development Meeting in Pontianak.
KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) is looking to establish greater collaboration with tourism players in West Kalimantan.
STF president Audry Wan Ullok said such collaboration was vital to achieve their common goal of promoting Borneo as one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide.
“We need to enhance the existing networking between us. We are quite fortunate that many of our members have already established their network with their counterparts here (Pontianak),” she said.
She attended the 1st Borneo Tourism Development Meeting together with Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) West Kalimantan and Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) West Kalimantan in Pontianak recently.
“Tourism players from both sides agree to meet on a more regular basis to discuss new strategies and, most importantly, exchange views and ideas on how best we can collaborate.
“We want to regard each other as partners rather than competitors. Although it could not be denied that tourism products in Sarawak and West Kalimantan are very similar in nature, it does not mean that tourists who come here will not go to Sarawak or vice-versa if both parties can offer something slightly different,” she said.
She added that this was where a cordial understanding among industry players from both sides play a vital role so they can develop something different which they can packaged together.
“This way they (Indonesian tourism players) can help sell our products and we sell theirs – a kind of collaboration we are trying to work on,” she said.
On the recent familiarisation trip to Pontianak and Singkawang, Audry described it as meaningful and fruitful, and hoped more such visits could be organised from time to time.
During the recent trip, STF delegates, comprising members from various tourism related agencies had the opportunity to meet their counterparts from Pontianak at a table talk.
“We hope this will not be the first and last. We hope to organise a meeting where we take turns to play host,” she said, adding such visits show them how others do things so they learn to be more creative and innovative.
“Wherever we go we are bound to see new things and we could use them to improve our products and services,” she said.
She said the connectivity with Pontianak had been made easier with daily MASwings flights from Kuching International Airport (KIA) and Supadio Airport, Pontianak.
“We hope with the facilities available to see more people travel to the other side and vice-versa,” she said.