KUCHING: The Kuching International Bike Week (KIBW) will make a comeback next year, bigger and better with more programmes planned throughout the state.
State Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the event proposed to be held in tandem with the Rainforest World Music Festival, was expected to gather more crowds for both events and increase tourist arrivals to the state.
The one-week event was proposed to be held from July 4 next year, close to the Rainforest World Music Festival date which was also decided prior to this, to be held in the same month.
“They (the organisers) have been looking in depth to make the event date closer to the Rainforest World Music Festival so they can help each other and they will be having roadshows to neighbouring countries to invite bikers from other countries.
“If this can be done together, not combined, it is of different identities, but if there are two programmes like this, they will support each other, because those who love big bikes also love music, so it does help increase participation,” he told a press conference today.
Abdul Karim said, the event, the largest to be held based on the proposed tentative and invited dignitaries, would be organised by a new organiser, Sarawak Motorcycle Association (SAMA), which was just registered on last Aug, as an umbrella association for local motorcycles clubs.
He said, the government was also ready to consider any programmes including the KIBW to be a part of the State Tourism Calendar.
“We might announce it during KIBW itself, but we will have to see how it is organised. For an event to be accepted and included in the state’s tourism calendar, it must meet a certain standard because the calendar will be promoted overseas,” he said. – Bernama
