Hii (centre) presents a lucky draw prize to a winner while Wong looks on.
SIBU: Hoteliers here have been urged to make use of the Internet to promote their business in view of the Visit Sibu Year 2017.
Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee said tourists these days were more Internet-savvy and wanted to obtain information with a click of the button.
“They are depending less on tour agencies and many are freelance and want to travel in a free and easy manner.
“They will be looking for information on websites and be doing (hotel) booking online instead of upon arrival at their destination,” Hii, who is also the divisional tourism task group (DTTG) chairman, told reporters at the Sarawak Central Region Hotel association’s annual dinner here on Sunday.
He cited Trip Advisor and Agoda websites as some of the examples of websites where travellers would usually check out for information about hotels, restaurants and places of attractions.
“While bigger hotels here are already promoting themselves on websites, small budget hotels too can jump on the bandwagon.
“There will always be those travellers who choose to stay at budget hotels.
“So, they will look at these budget hotels and I think it will help if you can register yourselves on these websites,” he opined.
Speaking at the function earlier, Hii said that the hotel sector played an important role in the growth and development of the tourism industry.
“Hotels and other forms of accommodation are essential for visitors to have a good rest and worry-free stays.
“In today’s hotel business, it is all about excellent customer service,” he pointed out.
“It’s a common practice for tourists nowadays to check on tourism review websites such as Trip Advisor to make sure that the tourism products they visit, food that they eat and hotels that they are going to stay in were alright from the views and opinions of the customers.”
Meanwhile, Johnny Wong Sie Lee, who was reappointed as the association’s chairman said the standard of budget hotels has improved tremendously over the years.
He also hoped the local council would continue to act tough on unlicensed hotels here.