KUCHING: The presence of hundreds of different bird species at Kubah National Park and Borneo Highlands Resort near here has great potential to be introduced as a new tourism attraction.
(Third row, third right) Ik Pahon and Rashid joining guests-of-honour, organisers and participants of the 2nd Borneo Bird Race 2014, for a group photo.
According to Tourism Ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, the ministry is currently conducting studies on various strategic locations across the state that can be developed into bird-watching sites.
“We have great potential to introduce bird-watching as a tourism product such as the ‘Borneo Bird Race’, which is a platform that exposes visitors to the many species we have,” he told reporters after meeting participants of the 2nd Borneo Bird Race 2014 at Borneo Highlands Resort recently.
He noted that Sabah and Brunei also picked up on this activity last year, and, as such, the state should not miss out on the opportunity to promote its various bird species here.
Meanwhile, the ongoing Borneo Bird Race, ending tomorrow, has the Philippines emerging as this year’s champions for in spotting 65 bird species.
Twenty-seven participants representing nine clubs from seven countries participated.
Among those present were Sarawak Tourism Board chairman Datuk Rashid Khan and Sandakan Borneo Bird Club president Cede Prudente.