Saturday, March 10, 2007

Sarawak to create a win-win tourism biz

By Magdalene Rogers

KUCHING - Sarawak is hoping to create a win-win situation to develop business in the tourism industry with other tourism players in the South-Asia countries.

Urban Development and Tourism Minister and 2nd Minister of Finance Amar Wong Soon Koh said at the South-Asia's Top Travel Agent Award dinner here on Thursday night that the state has a vast land area offering 30 rich tourism destinations that can be promoted in the region.

With that in mind, he urged the 62 supporting travel agents from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives to practise concept, competence, and connection in achieving a "win-win connectivity" that is also aided "with the strong economy" in the state and in the region.

"We can work together to put Kuching, Sarawak in the map of world tourism," he said.

Wong added that the local tourism industry acknowledged it is their fault for not promoting Sarawak to the traditional market earlier as its focus then was more to the overseas market.

In this respect, he said the travel agents can help to promote and to market Sarawak which is a land vastly populated with 27 ethnic groups and its culture, nature and adventure products.

Source: Borneo Bulletin Weekend

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