KUCHING: High speed Internet is crucial to promote tourism in the state’s rural areas, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The ICT infrastructure needs to be upgraded up to 30mbps minimum, whereas those for city areas, it should be between 50- 100mbps, he said.
“To promote tourism in rural areas, ICT infrastructure is a must. Nowadays, tourists will ask for Wi-Fi passwords when they arrive at their destinations. When we travel overseas, we also do the same,” he told a press conference to announce Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) members here yesterday.
He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had recommended 5mbps for rural areas, but he felt it was insufficient.
“MCMC recommends 5mbps, but we might as well don’t have it if it’s at that speed. Photos won’t load, and the text won’t load, too. The minimum should be 30mbps, and the committee has agreed.”
Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, noted that in some rural areas, there was no internet, and many areas were not even covered via satellite.
He added that tourism had been identified as a sector that would trigger development in the rural areas to enable the state achieve five per cent growth rate.
“We need development, including in rural areas, so that we have strength in cultural biodiversity to attract tourists. Currently, our growth rate is four per cent, and to achieve developed nation status by 2030, we need five per cent growth rate, which is an additional RM2.4 billion a year.”
He said the tourism development plan would include upgrading the national parks, create more nature reserves and nature parks, and enhancing language skills of tour guides especially in Japanese and Korean aside from English.
At the event, Kalaka assemblyman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz was named STB chairman with Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik as the deputy chairman.