More tourists expected with RBA as events promoter – Abg Jo

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A local country music band performing at the festival.

MIRI: Major events and activities in the northern region of Sarawak will be made known to Australians and Europeans with the help of neighbouring country Brunei.

This is because the task of promoting events and activities in Miri, including Limbang, has been given to the sultanate’s carrier Royal Brunei Airways (RBA).

Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg disclosed this to reporters when he attended the inaugural Miri Country Music Festival at ParkCity Everly Hotel here on Saturday night.

“My ministry is working with Brunei tourism authority, particularly with Ministry of Primary Industry Brunei, for a joint promotion between Brunei and Sarawak, particularly Miri and Limbang.

“We hope with this cooperation and collaboration, we will be able to bring many foreign tourists. This is where Royal Brunei Airways will be the airline entrusted to do the job.

According to Abang Johari, RBA was chosen to do the task as it flies to Australia as well as Europe, including London.

The joint committee will promote through RBA events in Brunei as well as events in the northern part of Sarawak, particularly in Miri, including Limbang.

Meanwhile, Abang Johari also disclosed the ministry had chosen Miri to be the ‘musical city’ in the state.

“We envisage Miri as musical city as it is the venue for two international musical events, namely The Borneo Jazz and Asian Music Festival and this inaugural Miri Country Music Festival will complete the package. Miri now has three international music-based festivals,” he said.

Abang Johari disclosed that Miri Country Music Festival was initiated and organised by a corporate organisation with the support from Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and Sarawak Tourism Board.

The festival, divided into three segments – musical and line dance workshop in the afternoon and concert featuring eight bands from United States, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia, was organised by UCSI Communication Management Sdn Bhd.

In line with the nation’s tourism marketing and promotion tagline – Cultural Year — Abang Johari said the state Ministry of Tourism would design a cultural based event for Miri in addition to the existing music festivals in the city.

Accompanying Abang Johari at the festival was Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin.