Miri: The Northern Gateway to Sarawak

Miri as the northern gateway to Sarawak has plenty to offer to tourists as it has some of the world's most fascinating caves such as those found in Mulu National Park and Niah, said Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

"Besides, it also offers visitors a wide variety of local cuisines and plenty of native handicrafts easily available at very reasonable prices.

To make Miri a 'must visit' destination in this part of the region, believes that more need to be done to spice it up," Chan told the Eastern Times at his office here recently.

He added that tourism players and the Government must cooperate to make Miri a truly 'happening' place.

"Basically we have two very strong factors to attract visitors to Miri, namely education and tourism.

"In the education sector, we already have the Curtin University of Technology campus, a Skilled Development Institute training and a teachers' training institute.

"And as far as tourism is concerned we have all the ingredients. That's why we called Miri a Tourist City. Now it's just a matter of marketing.

"We already have the products such the Miri Jazz Festival, the Mulu Caves, Niah Cave, Bario Highlands, Loagan Bunut, the mighty Baram River and beautiful coral reef which is ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling," he said.

Chan said, the next big question one may ask is: What is the missing factor to make Miri a northern gateway for visitors to Sarawak?

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Sarawak gives tourists good value for money

MIRI: Visitors to Sarawak get good value for money spent in the state as costs here are some of the lowest in Malaysia.

Speaking at a welcoming dinner for participants and officials of the 5th Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC) on Tuesday night, Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Tourism Hamden Ahmad explained that visitors to the state get a good deal as Sarawak has a lot to offer in terms of culture, adventure and nature.

He said most items and services required by visitors in Sarawak such as accommodation, food and transportation are also reasonably affordable.

“You, like other tourists and visitors to Miri and Sarawak are always welcome to experience the natural wonders, diversity in culture and tradition in Sarawak,” said Hamden citing marine life at Belais Reef and Luconia Shoals as some of Miri’s many attractions.

“The rare, beautiful and many species of flora and fauna found at Loagan Bunut National Park, and the world renowned Niah Caves and Gunung Mulu National Park await nature lovers and adventurers from abroad and locally. So make an effort to stay longer in Sarawak to enable you to savour all these.”

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Save Sarawak’s flora and fauna

KUCHING: Sarawak’s rich flora and fauna must be preserved to prevent it from becoming extinct, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said.

He said that the Loagan Bunut National Park, for example, was home to a great variety of flora and fauna, including 500 plant species, almost 200 bird species and more than 70 species of fish.

He said it was important to have proper, sustainable management of Loagan Bunut to preserve the flora and fauna.

Taib was speaking at the launch of the Loagan Bunut National Park Management Plan, the state’s first integrated management plan for the conservation of peat swamp forests, at the state legislative assembly building here yesterday.

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Guide book to Loagan Bunut National Park launched in Miri

By George Francis

MIRI - A first ever informative Visitors' Guide on Loagan Bunut National Park was yesterday launched here, providing a guide on the park's diverse plants and animals as well as the rich cultural heritage associated to the lake and useful for future planning.

It is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEP) funded project in collaboration with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation on the conservation and sustainable use of tropical peat swamp forests and associated wetland ecosystems, launched in 2002.

Chairman of Miri City Incorporated Tourism Committee, Lee Kim Shin who launched the Visitors' Guide, said, "Loagan Bunut National Park with an area of 10,736ha can be one of the must-see tourist destinations if it can be marketed well."

Therefore, he said, the guide book can provide exciting facts and information about the park to entice tourists to visit there.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Loagan Bunut in Sarawak to host World Wetlands Day

MIRI— A seminar on wetland and fishery will be held from Feb 3-4 at Loagan Bunut National Park, in conjunction with the annual World Wetlands Day that falls on Feb 2.

The seminar is organised by the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) in collaboration with Education Department, Forest Department, Agriculture Department, Natural Resources and Environment, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), and Loagan Bunut Fishery Management Committee (LBFMC).

According to the organising spokesperson, Loagan Bunut National Park (LBNP) had been chosen as the venue for the state level celebration since the park was composed of more than 80% peat swamp forest and its associated wetland ecosystems.

"With the importance of the lake to the ecosystem integrity of the LBNP especially the fishery hence the livelihood of the ethnic Berawans, it is very appropriate that the event be commemorated and celebrated there," he said.

Loagan Bunut National Park is composed of a huge, natural freshwater lake and is home to many variety of fish species while the local population, the Berawans, depend on the lake and its ecosystem for their livelihood since time immemorial.

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