KUCHING: The hydroelectric lakes of Bakun, Murum, Baleh and Batang Ai are potential sites to be developed into tourism and leisure destinations, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
However, to develop and turn these into popular tourist destinations like Lake Como in Italy would take time, planning and resources.
“The people must be patient. Lake Como, for example, took 100 over years to be what it is today,” said Masing, who is also state Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister.
Masing is leading a group of state assemblymen from Upper Rajang areas including the chief executive officer (CEO) of Regional Corridor of Development Authority (Recoda), and Sarawak Energy on a three-day study tour to Lake Como, Italy.
He said the visit is to find out the blueprint which makes Lake Como a very successful tourist destination.
“We had a discussion with the Regional Authority of Lambardi led by its vice president Alan Rizzi,” said Masing in a whatsApp message to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
Issues discussed included how the regional authority used wastes to generate energy to power the city.
“Their technology to put waste into energy is very advanced,” he noted.
According to Masing, the surrounding lands around the lake were also very well utilised as ecotourism destinations.
He said they were told that the tourist destination around the lake began in earnest with the construction of a hotel in 1871— more than 100 years ago.
“What this means is that tourism destination doesn’t happen overnight. It requires planning and patience for a place to mature as a tourist destination,” said Masing.
He pointed out that accessibility was critical in order to turn a place into a good tourist destination.
He noted that Lake Como is accessible by roads and seaplane, thus enabling the rich and famous to make it there in the shortest possible time.
