‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises to boost tourism industry

KUCHING: The ‘Lan Berambeh’ river cruises will act as the catalyst to spur developments and boost tourism industry along the Sarawak River.

“Within the next 10 years, the infrastructures along the Sarawak River will be upgraded. There will be a great change, different than what is seen today,” said Minister of Housing and Urban Development Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg prior to the maiden cruise of ‘Lan Berambeh’ from Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar’s Nibong jetty last Sunday night.

Costing RM120,000, the 70 feet long and 10 feet wide boat is built with a capacity of 40 passengers (25 below deck and 15 upper deck). It promised to be among the first among its kind to traverse the Sarawak River, besides the Equatorial.

“We have a lot of attractions along the Sarawak River for the locals and tourists alike to enjoy,” said Abang Johari of the river cruise which will do pit stops at Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar, Pengkalan Sapi, Kampung Boyan, Kuching Waterfront, Kampung Lintang and Kampung Paroh jetties.

He enthused that Kuching is unique, famous for its rich culture and the rarity of a river which divides the city centre and residential areas.

“This creates the opportunity for tourism like the famous Venice which recorded more than 60 million visitors a year,” said Abang Johari who believed in re-enacting the stature of the Venice River in Kuching.

Abang Johari, who is also state assemblyman for Satok, said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given an allocation of RM15 million for upgrading works along the Sarawak River.

“The pit stops that were identified will be colourfully lighted at night with loud signboards to let passengers know on which part of the Sarawak River they are traversing,” said Abang Johari of the routes which will encircle from Kubah Ria to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

“With Lan Berambeh in full operation, it is now possible for people to visit the new Satok Market and Kubah Ria via river while enjoying the beautiful sceneries instead of by road, which is prone to traffic jams,” said Abang Johari who is in the midst of remapping the public transport system for the new market.

Applauding the cooperative of Lan Berambeh Sungai Bedilku Kuching Berhad which was formed in 2010 in mooting the river cruise, he also said that the cooperative has taken an instrumental role in their initiative to aid the tourism industry as well as preparing a platform to catapult the Bumiputeras on the economic front.

To generate more income, Abang Johari also suggested that the cooperative extend their businesses by providing local delicacies on the cruise to generate more income to their members.

Besides the river cruise, he said that gondola services also held a huge potential in the tourism trade to rake in more monies, especially among honeymooners, who would part with their money freely to enjoy their once in a lifetime ride along the picturesque Sarawak River.

Meanwhile, chairman of Lan Berambeh Sungai Bedilku Kuching Berhad Zamahari Saidi assured that the river cruise offers attractive packages for passengers.

“Charges will be RM15 per person while those who are on recreational cruise will be charged RM35 per person inclusive of onboard food and beverages,” said Zamahari before surprising Abang Johari and his wife Datin Amar Jumaani Tuanku Haji Bujang with a cake to celebrate the anniversary of their wedding.

Among the invited guests at the launch were Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip and Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.