NEW natural attractions in Bau such as Satow Waterfall, Bronang Waterfall, Oyak Muot Waterfall, and Libuan Pinomu should be packaged with other major attractions in the district to provide a comprehensive experience for visitors.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting said accessibility and basic facilities, such as public toilets, changing rooms, car parks, gazebos, trails, signages, food outlets, among others, should also be provided at these sites.
“Development should include managing visitors and facilities at the respective attractions and working with local communities to have them involved in community-based tourism such as homestays, handicrafts, becoming local host guides, and to be responsible in tourism practises,” he said in response Datuk Henry Harry Jinep (PDP-Tasik Biru) during the DUN sitting today (Nov 10).
Ting said other potential areas which the state government could consider to be packaged as tourist attractions in Bau are Siniawan Night Market, Siniawan Weekend Streetfood, Serikin Market, Catholic Memorial Pilgrimage Centre at Mount Singai, Wind Caves, Fairy Caves, Tasik Biru, Libiki Bamboo Resort and Koloyan Resort.
Other than those places of interests, he also mentioned Bung Bratak, Bung Jagoi Heritage Centre, Mount Singai, Gunung Beronang, The Sleeping Lady, Chinese temples, Kampung Tringgus Bong, Tringgus Homestay, Badul Homestay, Mount Serumbu, Borneo Tribal Village and Gunung Gajah.
He added that his ministry would work closely with Sarawak Tourism Board to promote domestic attractions through various measures, including frequent engagement with divisional tourism task forces, head by residents, to identify creative packaging for the local attractions in a division or district.
“We will conduct monthly tourism product update sessions for the tourism industry players, promote local attractions through the Sarawak Travel app or social media as well as encourage and train local communities to become tourism volunteers and ambassadors.
“We will also encourage domestic tourism through campaigns like ‘Sia Sitok’ and organise familiarisation trips for tour operators, media members and influencers,” said Ting.
He said Sarawak should capitalise on the rise in demand for ecotourism by introducing new ecotourism products while conserving existing attractions.
“To achieve these aspirations, the development of domestic tourism attractions for new areas in Tasik Biru or elsewhere within Sarawak would be carried out by my ministry in collaboration with relevant government agencies, local authorities, tourism industry players, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, and most importantly, the local community,” he said.
