KUCHING: Sarawak is always in the priority list of the federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) in terms of tourism infrastructure development, said its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She disclosed that at the Majlis Tindakan Pembangunan Kementerian (MTPK) led by the ministry’s secretary general Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hamat had visited a few ongoing projects in Kuching recently, which have the potential to be developed as tourism spots.
“Among these is the Kampung Bintangor Heritage Walk leading to Kuching Esplanade, National Archive and a handicraft centre to develop Sarawak craft products,” she said.
Nancy pointed out that the handcraft centre located in Petrajaya here should be moved nearer to the city centre in order to increase the products’ buyers.
“The handicraft centre in Petrajaya is too far away. Hence, we are trying to sort that out. In fact, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (state Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister) has informed that they are going to build a new centre here.
“Perhaps the federal ministry can discuss further with the state on the development project so that we can develop handcraft products together, be it from West Malaysia or Sarawak.
“It’s time for us to assist Sarawak because I think we all can see that the state is getting left behind. But of course, I should not be looking at Sarawak only, as we have to look at Malaysia as a whole,” she elaborated.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said Sarawak would continue with the Visit Sarawak campaign focusing on strengthening the ‘Sarawak More to Discover’ brand and promoting five key themes of the state’s unique experience in terms of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals (CANFF).
“Besides continuing with the Visit Sarawak Campaign, a new post Covid-19 campaign with a tagline ‘Rediscover Yourself in Sarawak’ is organised to reach out to the domestic market , i.e to travel within the state (intra-state) and inter-state and to embrace the new norm,” he said.
Also present were International Trade and Industry, Industry Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (Mintred) Assistant Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris, federal ministry secretary general Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hama and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz.
