MIRI: Niah National Park, which is bidding for World Heritage Site status, has what it takes to become a new tourism hotspot.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting said with its unique geological formations, cultural significance and vast areas of primary rainforest, it can play a larger role in luring tourists and invoking cultural appreciation.
Ting was speaking at the welcoming dinner for an international convention on the Niah National Park for World Heritage Site nomination on Monday here.
Sarawak is blessed with numerous tourist attractions and can provide a broad variety of experiences in culture, arts, nature, foods and festivals, he said.
“It is only through serious conservation and protection that we will be able to preserve our heritage for future generations to enjoy and share with the rest of the world.”
On the conference, he said it would be the best platform for participants to share knowledge, formulate ideas, create awareness and ultimately achieve the Unesco World Heritage Site designation for Niah National Park.
Ting added that in recognising the importance of Niah National Park, numerous measures have been undertaken and the park has been on the Unesco World Heritage Tentative List since 2021.
“We are now working on gettiung it to be designated as a World Heritage Site, making it the first site in Malaysia to meet two categories of Outstanding Universal Value, in both culture and nature significance,” he said.
Also present were director of Sarawak Museum Department Tazudin Mohtar and Sarawak Forestry Corporation chief executive officer (CEO) Zolkipli Mohamad Aton.
