Tourism industry players urged to use digital technology

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(From left) Abang Abdul Karim, Abdul Latif and Uzaidi at the press conference.

KUCHING: Tourism industry players need to use digital technology in promoting and strengthening the industry.

A board member of Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Abang Openg said the industry players could not escape digital technology.

“They have no choice, they must adopt and apply digital technology to boost the industry,” he said at the launch of ‘Showcasing Tourism Products (STP) Sarawak 2018’ programme at one of leading hotels here yesterday.

Later at a press conference, the chairman of Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN), Uzaidi Udanis, also emphasised the need for tourism industry players to adopt the use of digital technology.

He said so far industry players in the country had yet to fully accept the use of digital technology to strengthen their respective industries.

Taking the example of Grab and Uber services in using digital technology, Uzaidi said the service not only affected taxi service providers but also limousine and van services for travellers.

He said in view of the current trend, the tourism industry players have to accept the use of digital technology, which they could not run away from.

“That’s why we in TPN are introducing Tourism B2B, an online electronic platform that enables stakeholders (travel agents, tour operators, hotel operators and transport operators) to maximise their business opportunities through opportunities and information sharing.

“We also create Tour Buddy or Partner Tour among locals as they know more about the interesting places in their area that can be promoted to foreign tourists,” he said.

MPC deputy director-general Dato Abdul Latif Abu Seman was also present at the press conference.