Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Sarawak Tourism Ministry allocated RM44m for next year


THE Sarawak Tourism Ministry has been allocated RM44 million under the 2017 state budget to boost the state’s tourism industry.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg disclosed this when met by reporters yesterday.

He said parts of the allocation would be used as incentives for direct charter flights into Sarawak, which he hoped would be turned into scheduled flights.

“The market has responded and we need certain incentives to be given to them,” said Abang Johari who is also Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.

The allocation would also be used for upgrading tourism infrastructure, particularly national parks.

Abang Johari, who has been tasked to lead one of the three cabinet committees – the Performance and Service Delivery Transformation Committee – said the Housing and Urbanisation Ministry would be coming out with an Urban Renewal Master Plan.

“We are doing a master plan for us to redevelop or renew our urban centres.  As you know, there are certain areas that we need to redevelop,” said Abang Johari, who is also Housing and Urbanisation Minister.

Citing Kampung Darul Hana and Main Bazaar of Kuching as the examples, he said while the ministry was redeveloping city centres, it would also strive to preserve the villages or areas that had historical value.

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