MIRI: There is a plan to turn the coastline from Tanjong Lobang to Kuala Sibuti into the `Gold Coast of Sarawak’.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin, after chairing a State Tourism Coordination Committee meeting here yesterday, said the 35km initiative would be similar or could rival Australia’s Gold Coast.
“We want to promote our sea as diving, fishing, and sport fishing havens. The area is rich with untouched corals and marine life,” said Lee.
“Apart from beaches, we plan to sell our cultural and natural wonders, too.”
On the state’s national parks, he said they were for adventure tourists, where they could opt to fly or use boats or travel through timber tracks to get to their destinations.
Lee said the state’s interior, particularly Baram, would not be left out from the state’s tourism radar as they possessed natural and cultural wonders.
These areas could be promoted as a Tourism Triangle.
“Under this Tourism Triangle would be Loagan Bunut, Mulu National Parks, Niah and Lambir National Parks. Other areas with potential under this Tourism Triangle are Bario, Usun Apau, Long San and Long Bangak, in the interior of Baram.”
Saying that the tourism industry would be an engine of growth and major contributor to the state’s economy, Lee urged all divisions in the state to re-activate and revamp their respective tourism committee.
Ideally, each division should come out with tourism products or activities and events that are unique and able to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
Also at the meeting were Assistant Minister of Art and Culture Datuk John Sikie Tayai, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, and Miri Deputy Resident Aziz Yusof.