KUCHING: Sarawak has many hidden attractions to offer, not only to locals but tourists alike, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said as such, he believed through the ‘Sarawak Ambassadors Programme on e-learning for e-hailing drivers’ initiated by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) in collaboration with Grab Malaysia (Grab), e-hailing drivers would be equipped with the knowledge about Sarawak’s tourism and thus would be able to share this with visitors.
“Once the border is open and the tourists are back, then this is where you will play your part in applying the knowledge that you have obtained from the programme.”
Abdul Karim said this during the presentation of certificates to participants of the programme here on Monday (April 12).
He was delighted to know that 1,000 e-hailing drivers based in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri had completed the programme, launched in October last year.
“STB has received positive feedback since the launch of this programme, and to keep the momentum and generate more interest for the programme, we are continuing this initiative.
“We are targeting the next 1,000 drivers, with a similar award of a Certificate of Completion together with RM20 Grab vouchers.”
Abdul Karim added that those who achieved 100 per cent score would be further rewarded with an additional RM50 Grab voucher together with STB’s soft toy mascot Sarawak Hornbill.
“I understand that we have reached 63 per cent for the second programme.”
He urged more Grab drivers to take up this opportunity to arm themselves with knowledge and help promote Sarawak.
The free programme is targeting the first 1,000 drivers out of 5,000 in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Version 2.0 started immediately after STB achieved the first target of 1,000.
The modules are facilitated by SATT College, which are available in English, Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin, and cover information about Sarawak, culture and heritage as well as tourist destinations in all regions — Southern, Central and Northern.
Among those present were STB chairman and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor, Malaysian Association of Hotels Sarawak Chapter advisor Mohamad Ibrahim Nordin and Grab Malaysia regional operations manager Joyce Lee.
