BAU: This district, with its lush nature abounding, unique cultures and heritage sites of various multi-ethnic groups, has the right tonic to offer tourists from Singapore and Hong Kong – the two main markets identified by the Tourism Ministry to lure in more visitors this year.
According to the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Bau District has many tourist attractions such as the Fairy Cave, Wind Cave, Bung Jagoi Heritage Centre, Bung Singai Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) and the Bung Bratak Heritage Centre which is currently being developed.
Other attractions include the popular Serikin weekend market, Bau Lake, Siniawan heritage town including Bau town itself, fondly known as the Gold Mine Town. He is confident all these attractions will be appealing to local and foreign tourists.
“Sarawak offers many tourist attractions especially our beautiful nature, unique culture and heritage of various ethnic groups. All the attractions found in Bau will be included in the promotion programme of the ministry overseas, to inform foreign tourists what this district has to offer for them,” said Ik Pahon when officiating at the Fairy Cave Co-operative first anniversary dinner held in the vicinity of Fairy Cave at Jalan Krokong here last Saturday.
Meanwhile, Fairy Cave Co-operative chairman Penghulu Dihoi Nyawen said this year’s Fairy Cave Festival will be held from May 26 to 28. The three-day festival will be filled with various activities including food bazaar, traditional games and entertainment events.
On a related note, Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, after chairing the state tourism steering committee last month, cited Singapore and Hong Kong as two of the major connecting hubs the state was keen on strengthening to raise tourist arrival.
“Sarawak is aggressively promoting tourism in Singapore, a market we are seriously looking to tap. Malaysia recorded 30 million tourists arrival last year and about 60 per cent had entered through Singapore. This shows that Singapore is an important hub for our country and that is why I emphasise on establishing strong linkage with Singapore,” he told a press conference on March 23.
Touching on connectivity, he reminded that the next five years would see the state government going all out to promote Sarawak to important Asian hubs namely Singapore and Hong Kong.
This objective has seen the state ink a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Airline, which will fly twice weekly to Sarawak beginning April 26.
Last year, Sarawak recorded 4.51 million visitors that brought in an estimated RM9.87 billion in tourism revenue. The state tourism sector contributed about 9.27 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).