GET A COPY: The free brochure with route information, shuttle timetable and contact numbers.
KUCHING: There could be a serious parking problem this festive weekend due to the limited parking spaces at One Hotel Santubong and its vicinity.
The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is not the only big event that will be taking place in the Damai area as a newly organised event ‘Rush! The Beach Fiesta’ will also be held there.
About 20,000 people are expected to visit the three-day major music event at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) while ‘Rush’ to be held at the Damai Central (right opposite SCV) is also likely to attract thousands.
Santubong Resort is the cut-off point for those travelling by cars as roads leading to the festive area would be blocked beginning Thursday night.
Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Datuk Rashid Khan, when contacted yesterday, assured that traffic police and other enforcers from the private sector will be stationed at the Santubong Resort to manage the traffic flow.
“Also, CPL Bus Service will be providing express coaches from the city and shuttle vans from Santubong Resort to ferry festival goers right to the door step of SCV,” he further said.
CPL Bus Link’s business development manager Gerald Teng, when met yesterday, also advised and urged locals to take the public transport for a hassle free travel as well as to avoid cramming in Santubong Hotel.
“When was the last time you took a bus ride?” he questioned, adding that it was time to relive the amazing experience.
This year, CPL has been made the official transporter for the Rainforest event after first serving as the public shuttle service last year.
On the buses and shuttle vans operations, Teng said the routes and timetable were well planned with the information printed in brochures and also available on STB’s website.
“In planning the bus schedules, we have also taken into consideration several factors on traffic delays such as jams and congestion,” he said.
He added: “Overall and with our last year’s experience, the public are happy with the services. And we will continue to make sure our services are reliable and punctual as well as hassle-free for passengers.”
Teng disclosed that with a total of 28 units of express coaches and shuttle vans available, its bus services would be ready to shuttle 10,000 passengers per day.
The Hills Shopping Mall and Merdeka Palace Hotel have been chosen as the pick-up points where passengers can hop on the Main Shuttle (express coaches) to get to SCV.
The Main Shuttle service from the city to SCV will operate from 10am until 8pm while from SCV to city from 11.30am to 1.30am with buses leaving every hour.
Tickets for the Main Shuttle is priced at RM15 one way per adult and RM8 one way per child.
In addition, City Ring Bus services will operate from 9am to 8pm, transporting passengers around the city and passing by most major and budget hotels to the two main pick-up points for just RM1 per trip. The Ring Bus services will cover two routes with City Ring A from Jalan Masjid to the Main Bazaar to the pick-up points; and City Ring B covering Padungan to Jalan Central Timur to the Hills.
As for the Shuttle Van service which only operates between One Santubong Hotel and SCV, vans to SCV will be available from 10am to 9pm while to Santubong Hotel until 1.30am.
Passengers can also purchase a three-day unlimited bus ride pass for RM60.
Teng said he will be expecting a few hiccups along the way but added an emergency plan is in place to tackle the massive crowd, breakdowns, bad weather and other delays due to congestion and irresponsible parking.