Northern, central, southern regions identified as strategic tourism locations

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(From left) Ismawi, Sikie, Abang Johari and Lee show the State Tourism Task Force Committee proposal after the first meeting yesterday.

(From left) Ismawi, Sikie, Abang Johari and Lee show the State Tourism Task Force Committee proposal after the first meeting yesterday.

KUCHING: The state government, through the State Tourism Task Force, has identified northern, central and southern regions of the state as strategic locations for its tourism industry.

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government would focus on these three regions, including the potentials of lake tourism for central region as well as Miri and Limbang for the northern region.

“As for the central region, the task force will have to look into the potential of lakes such as those in Bakun and Murum to be developed as resorts and environment-related tourism products.

“Next will be the new lake in Baleh. We have all these lakes so we have to identify the infrastructure needed. We have asked the task force committee to think of an authority to oversee the development of our lakes and hinterlands,” he said after chairing the first meeting of State Tourism Task Force Committee here yesterday.

In the northern region, he said the anchor attractions would be Mulu, Miri, Lambir and Niah, adding that the task force committee would also look into improving the infrastructure in areas such as Bakam Point and Miri City.

In the southern region (Kuching area), he said the task force would look into the development of tourism corridor from Damai to include Wetland Park and Bako National Park, right up to Sematan, Lundu and Bau.

Abang Johari, who is also deputy chief minister, assured that the state government would enhance infrastructure at strategic areas in these three regions, adding that the task force had been given a year to work on enhancing the infrastructure.

“I have a feeling that with the planned infrastructure, we will be able to develop quality products that would draw tourists to the state.”

With the state government playing a role to provide all the essential facilities, Abang Johari said the state’s tourism industry should be private sector-driven for it to be sustainable.

He also said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had given Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) additional allocation to provide facilities at selected national parks in Lambir and Niah in Miri, Head Hunter’s Trail in Limbang, Semenggoh, Bako and Bau (Wind and Fairy Caves).

“All these will be managed on joint venture basis between the private sector and SFC. The asset belongs to the government while the management and marketing will be the private sector.”

Through joint-venture between the state government and the private sector, he believed would help to generate revenue for the state through the fees imposed which would be used to further enhance the quality of the state’s tourism products.

Abang Johari also said the State Tourism Task Force Committee, of which he is the chairman, was empowered to look into the existing status of the state tourism industry and to explore new areas for the industry to move on.

“It also positions tourism as a strategic sector in the government’s catch-up plan for Sarawak, to improve the state’s economy to be on par with Peninsular Malaysia and for us to achieve a high income economy by 2030.”

A working committee under the task force led by State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani,

has been established with permanent secretaries to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment as members.

Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Dr Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister for Arts and Culture Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Deputy State Secretary Datu Ismawi Ismuni and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datu Ik Pahon Joyik were also present at the meeting.