MIRI: Efforts to promote Miri as a resort city should not just depend on its nature and culture assets, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan.
TOP TEAM: Lee (fifth left) presents the champion's trophy to the China team. Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai is at fourth right.
He said the tourism industry’s scope should instead be more visionary.
“Tourism promotion should not be limited to nature and culture assets as the industries like sports, education and many others also have great potential and wide markets for tourism promotion,” he said in his address at the 16th Asian Chinese Chess Championship closing ceremony and prize presentation dinner on Friday.
Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin read his text of speech.
Dr Chan said the chess championship was an example of how sports events can have a positive impact on the tourism industry as it attracted teams from Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Japan and Korea.
More international events, he said, should be organised in order to complement the local authority’s efforts to make Miri alive and vibrant with tourism related activities.
He also called for creativity to attract participants from across the globe.
“I strongly believe such events are one of the alternative ways to put Miri on the world tourism industry map effectively.”
Meanwhile, China won the event, while Vietnam and Hong Kong were second and third respectively.