Tourism Ministry urges more direct involvement by homegrown players
NATURAL WONDERS: Tourists are more interested to see the undeveloped areas that the state has such as the forests, the trees and the rivers, according to Dawos.
PADAWAN: More local players are needed to boost the state’s tourism sector especially that of eco-tourism, urged Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit.
Coming into his first year since his appointment into the federal portfolio on January 13, Dawos – also a Member of Parliament for Padawan constituency – had initially strategised for a ‘community-based’ tourism that aimed at engaging the local people in rural areas to bring in foreign tourists into the state’s natural eco-tourism havens, as means for them to earn their living.
However, these people should move forward, added the minister.
“It has been almost one year since I came into the ministry, yet things had not been very reactive,” said Dawos.
“The only other option seems to be for them to become tour guides. Still, I am urging them to strive towards becoming full-fledged tourism operators. If they wish to become a licensed tourism operator, they should apply for the license. Otherwise, how can they further improve?
“Thus, I am opening my doors to these entrepre-neurs where they can liaise with officers in my ministry here; one each at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and The Riverbank Suites,” the minister told The Borneo Post recently.
Dawos, however, added that the focus would remain at promoting eco-tourism.
“Tourists are more interested to see the undeveloped areas that we have here such as the forests, the trees and the rivers. These are virgin spots, yet to be disturbed by modernisation. Since these products are already here, they (local operators) are responsible to bring the tourists here; but first they themselves must identify all those products.”
Recently, the minister held a seminar for over 500 participants from his constituency, engaging them in the fundamentals of the the overall tourism industry, especially pertaining to those within the Puncak Borneo and Padawan areas.
Within the Padawan constituency, there are currently 18 Bidayuh villages along and about Puncak Borneo area. In the Krokong-Bau area, there are 17 villages while another 13 are located within the Serumpu-Bau area.
“I believe it bodes well with the aim to have Malaysians earning higher income and better standards of living especially those in the rural areas. How? It has to be from this kind of industry.
“Bear in mind that by 2020, we have to promote tourism more vigorously in order to receive at least 36 billion foreign tourists’ arrivals every year, estimated to bring in at least RM168 billion in annual tourism receipts. That is why we keep on identifying and developing products and human resources.
“On the the local players’ part, these are the opportunities. But they must know their destinations, as well as the products and offerings that these places have,” stressed Dawos.
Statistics from the ministry showed that to date, the country’s tourism sector had already recorded a seven per cent growth this year from last year’s 23.6 million in annual tourists’ arrivals. Further, there was an increase of 17 per cent in annual tourists’ spending this year from last year’s total of RM54 billion.
“I would want this to happen while I’m still in the ministry,” disclosed Dawos.
Meanwhile, the minister lauded the efforts of some successful local operators who managed to respond to his message and challenge.
“For these operators, I just leave it to them to do their own operations.”
Dawos also highlighted the point of providing more than one offerings to foreign tourists.
“Foreign tourists will constantly ask: where’s next? This is an area where tour operators should know very well. Here within my constituency alone, we have an abundance of places where they can go namely the two-hour visit to the ‘orangutan’ wildlife centre at Semenggok; explorations of natural caves and waterfalls at Kampung Giam; witnessing the largest flower in the world Rafflesia at Kampung Timuran, where we had set up an Tourist Information Centre; as well as a visit to the hot springs of Kampung Annah Rais.”
In particular, the Annah Rais hot springs had been closely monitored by Dawos himself under an upgrading project funded by the ministry.
“The works for infrastructure of the springs are almost completed and should be ready by next year – the latest in January. By then, tourists can come and enjoy their visit there comfortably. Overall allocation for the works had amounted to RM500 million,” disclosed the minister.
Amidst these tourism products, Dawos also pointed out that the development of these natural spots would create spin-off effects that could benefit the locals.
“Tourists would like to have their meals along the way, which could benefit food service operators and snacks shops along the route. The would also benefit the handicraft makers and homestays operators as well as those ‘kedai runcits’ (smallholders’ retail shop), should these tourists decided to stay a little while longer,” he stated.