Today is a historical day for Sibu's tourism industry - in-bound tourism that is. For today, the famed Pandaw Cruise will be launched by the Tourism Minister, Datuk Michael Manyin. This ship, which will begin its maiden cruise along Malaysia's longest river, is called RV ORIENT PANDAW.
Local tour operators which bring in foreign tourists will sure stand to benefit. Though, the chairman of the Tour Operators association has reservations about the potential benefits the local players are about to benefit from, that's because most of them are serving the out-bound tourists.
July 1, will see the maiden cruise of Pandaw Cruise along the Rajang River, which will take NINE days to make the complete round of itinerary. Along the way, visitors, most of whom are from Europe and the US, will stop by at riverine towns, longhouses and get themselves the taste of local cultures, food and beauty of the country side.
I'll give more details in the next blog, as I've got to attend a function, now.
THE MIGHTY HORMBILL...
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it is good to see the first of this kind of cruise in Sibu, Sarawak. I just hope it will continue to service, of course with the help or Sarawak Toursim and Malaysia Tourism Department.
ReplyDeleteInfact, the centre region of Sarawak has a lot more to offer to the world. We have the most natural environment for tourism industry to offer to the world.
May i suggest to the government of Sarawak that why not we get all the corporate in Sarawak to adopt "different kind of product, like longhouse" and Sarawak Toursim Board to take the lead to do the promotion.
see you next time.
Thank for your comment. As for your suggestion in turning the longhouses for one of the tourism products, the matter has been done a long time ago. In fact, the longhouses are one of the main attractions here. It's been marketed by Inbound tour operators for several years. This was also included in so many Sarawak Tourism Board and the Malaysian Tourism Ministry's marketing efforts overseas, over the years.
ReplyDeleteThe Cruise on the Rajang River by the way is NOT a Sarawak owned ship, it's from a Scotish company. But it has more than 10,000 agents throughout the world. By its wide contact, my hope is that Sibu will "explode" in the couple of years to come.
The way I see, what is necessary now is for ALL Players - both private and government to STRATEGISE and TAKE ADVANTAGE of the OPPORTUNITY, which is ALREADY in Hand.
I have had the opportunity to talk with these people, and I'm sure something will be done to improve and strategise, until such time that the Rajang Cruise will be THE product that must be experienced by tourists.
Thanks, again for your comment.