Zizzan, the person employed by Kampung Tasik Biru Cooperatives to handle the cruise boats.
KUCHING: Visitors to Bau town can now take a relaxing boat ride in Bau Lake and enjoy the unrivalled beauty of its surrounding, thanks to the commissioning of two cruise boats slated for tours around the lake.
This service is currently run by the Kampung Tasik Biru Cooperatives under the purview of the village’s security and development committee led by headman Ajit Francis.
The idea for a boat cruise in Bau Lake water was mooted by Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
According to special aide to the assemblyman, Jack Oduin, the boat ride is one of the initiatives meant to promote Bau Lake as a tourism attraction.
“This lake has been neglected for far too long, despite it having the potential to become one of the niche tourism products of Bau District.
“With the availability of such activity, we also hope it would help uplift the socio-economic activities in the district,” he said.
Jack also pointed out that the introduction of the new tourism product in Bau town would ensure that Bau Lake would not just be a ‘passers-by spot’ for thousands of domestic and international tourists converging on the border town of Serikin every weekend.
“We must take this opportunity to create additional activities to promote the lake and Bau District, all of which is under the Tasik Biru state constituency,” he added.
Jack said the Bau Lake boat cruise had been in operation since mid-September – about two weeks before the Tasik Biru Festival on Oct 30 last year.
He said the boat ride had been quite popular among the local tourists, adding that the operation had been very smooth so far.
“One boat can accommodate a maximum of eight passengers while the other, a maximum of 12. The fee for a 30-to-40-minute ride is RM10 per adult and RM5 per child.”
Jack said aside from the boat ride, visitors could also tour the lake in kayak.
“For now, there are 10 kayaks available for renting – five units for single person, and five for double. Kayaking is more popular during the evening,” he said, adding that two pedal boats were also available at the lake.
“They’re (pedal boats) are on loan from Samat Junai, the operator of the ‘Donut Boat’ at Kuching Waterfront,” he said.