TESTING ITS POWER: Nazri puts this Harley Davidson to the test as he amped up the throttle during the symbolic opening ceremony.
KUCHING: Newly-minted Minister of Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz is supportive of the idea to organise more big-bikers packages in Borneo, especially in Sarawak.
Launching the 14th Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival (BIIBBF) here on Friday, he said Sarawak had the potential to be promoted as a big tourism destination for big bike owners.
He added that this was not impossible since there is availability of tourism products, including homestays, where participants could stay and experience local cultures at the same time.
“We already have many packages for the big bike community in the peninsula. My hope is that such packages can be extended to the island of Borneo.”
He said his ministry held the view that big bike packages add variety to the current range of tourism products being offered in the country, and would be able to attract international tourists who own big bikes.
Nazri added that his ministry was targeting tourist arrivals of 28.6 million this year, with an estimated revenue of RM65 billion.
Borneo Island Big Bikers (BIBB) president Datuk Dr Azman Samaon said the BIIBBF is hosted rotationally between various entities in Borneo.
He said the selection of Sarawak as the host for this year is special because it coincides with the state’s 50 years of independence through Malaysia.
A total of 390 participants are taking part in the BIIBFF which started on Friday and ends tomorrow. They come not only from Malaysia, but also Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Also present at the launching dinner were Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip and the Tourism Ministry Permanent Secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.