KUCHING: War-related heritage should be promoted and marketed further as tourism products to raise awareness of past events.
In saying this, Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik pointed out that programmes and events related to the Second World War, confrontation and insurgency could become good and effective tourism products to remind future generations of the sacrifices made by countless individuals to preserve the peace and sovereignty of the country.
Promoting such products would also enhance ties with war veterans including their family members and those indirectly connected.
“I understand that it is quite improper to promote products that bring back memories of suffering during the war but tourism being tourism, there are certain aspects in life that we need to continue to promote so that mankind will continue to remember the good part of life.
“We noticed each year that our friends from Australia and New Zealand such as army veterans, their families and descendants visit the state to see such products.
“War-related programmes and events are considered good products which the state should promote among interested, special and specific groups of people,” he said when officiating at the soft launch of the 70th Anniversary World War II commemoration events at Batu Lintang Teachers’ Training Institute (IPG) campus here yesterday.
Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Heritage Development Committee chairman Lim Kian Hock, state Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) director Lt Col Monday Juhid and Batu Lintang IPG director Awang Hambali Awang Hamdan were also present.
Ik Pahon, who is also Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer, said the state has a lot of heritage products due to the Second World War.
He named the Heroes’ Grave at Jalan Taman Budaya here as among the products that should be enhanced, considering the annual visits made by veterans and family members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) to commemorate fallen war heroes.
“Keep up this legacy of ours. It may not be a popular product to be promoted worldwide but it is the small numbers of visitors that come, those who are connected to the product, is the most important because the meaning behind what we are doing is something more meaningful than the monetary value.
“If we can unite and bring the grandchildren and other descendants to visit the state and see the greatness that their father, or grandfather had done, we are already contributing to mankind in this respect,” Ik Pahon pointed out.
He assured that the Tourism Ministry is very supportive and will try its best to provide funding, coordination, facilitation and other assistance to help conserve, preserve and promote what is precious to mankind.
Touching on the 70th anniversary programmes organised by STF, he hoped the events would be sustainable.
“The calendar of events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Second World War is a kind of product that could be marketed to become an annual activity. Tourism players should participate, support and promote these products.”
On behalf of the Tourism Ministry, Ik Pahon expressed his gratitude to the administration of Batu Lintang IPG to make it part of the orientation for all students to learn and understand the history of the Batu Lintang prisoner-of-war (POW) camp.
He hoped that when these students graduate, they will help to spread peace and the reason mankind, regardless of ethnicity and religion, should come together to promote peace and prosperity.