Sarawak and Kalimantan urged to work together on adventure tourism

KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu has suggested that Sarawak and Kalimantan collaborate in developing adventure tourism in the region.

He said the two states in Borneo had the potential to be among the most attractive destinations for adventure tourists from around the world.

Adventure tourism in Sarawak and Kalimantan could be divided into urban settings and interior rides or walks.

“The experience can be enriched if the tourists interact with local people. There are many ethnic groups in the interior of Sarawak and Kalimantan and their cultures are attractive components of adventure tourism,” he said at the launch of the Screensaver Photography: Kalimantan, Sarawak, Europe exhibition here on Tuesday night.

Jabu said the exchange of cultural troupes and expeditions between Sarawak and Kalimantan should be enhanced.

He said he had always enjoyed his participation in the exchange of cultural troupes between the two states over the years.

Travel through the interior of Sarawak and Kalimantan was an unforgettable experience of culture and nature, he added.

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e-Community portal a boon to Sarawak tourism industry

KUCHING: The Borneo Tourism Alliance e-Community portal that was launched yesterday is expected to give better impact and exposure to products or tourism destinations as it provides easier accessibility besides expanding cooperation between the tourism players.

Speaking during the media conference, Deputy Minister of Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan stated that this exercise is one of the follow-up programmes under the Tourism Sector Initiative that was established under the Sarawak Economic Transformation Laboratory (or Lab) recently.

“This portal will be able to impact in terms of easier accessibilities and expanding cooperation between the homestay operators, hotels, tour agents, handicraft owners in promoting their services and products.

“It will also help to reduce marketing cost, which was among the proposals submitted in the Sarawak Economic Transformation Lab recently,” he said.

Sagan pointed out that the programme involves all homestay owners in the state as well as the women entrepreneurs group together with the state tourism ministry.

According to him, under the tourism initiative through the lab organised by MITI recently there were eight initiatives that were proposed involving health tourism, education tourism, eco-tourism hub, sports tourism, homestay, cultural and environmental tourism, property tourism and infrastructure

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Borneo Travel to Kuching - Capital of Sarawak, Borneo

With incredible outdoor attractions, multiple endangered species, and enough rainforest to keep even hardcore trekkers busy for a long time, Borneo travel is a exactly what every backpacker dreams of. Unfortunately many budget travelers making their way around Southeast Asia tend to bypass Borneo, buying into the myth that the world's third-largest island is out of their budgets.

Malaysian Borneo is comprised of two states - Sarawak and Sabah - which are separated by the small, independent nation of Brunei. The bustling city of Kota Kinabalu in the northern state of Sabah receives a lion's share of tourism in Borneo, while Sarawak - both cheaper and more peaceful - manages to stay off the mass tourism radar. Backpackers wanting to stick to a shoestring budget should definitely consider visiting Sarawak first.

Travel to Kuching, Sarawak

Kuching, the pleasant capital of Sarawak, takes many travelers by surprise. Considered one of the cleanest cities in Asia, Kuching's enjoyable waterfront and brick esplanade is well-manicured and spotless. The waterfront also serves as a venue for many of Sarawak's festivals; there always seems to be music or some form of free, cultural entertainment taking place. Chinatown in Kuching provides cheap accommodation and eateries, while free museums and green parks keep your Borneo travel budget happy.

Things to Do in Kuching

Museums and cultural centers in the city are free and are a great way to learn more about Borneo's indigenous headhunter cultures. Headhunting was common practice in Sarawak well into the 1950s; scores of removed heads still hang on display in local museums.

While Kuching has a few interesting draws, the rainforest just outside of the city is the real reason most people choose Borneo travel. Kuching serves as the perfect base for taking advantage of Sarawak's natural wonders. Gunung Gading National Park - only two hours away by bus - is the perfect place to luck upon the world's rarest and strangest flower: the rafflesia. Flowers bloom sporadically and unpredictably; check with the Forestry Office in Kuching to see if any flowers are in bloom. Even without rafflesias making an appearance, the Gunung Gading National Park is a peaceful retreat with accommodation and excellent trekking.

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Promoting BIMP-EAGA tourism through buses

KUCHING: The tourism authorities in Sabah/Sarawak, Indonesia and Brunei are looking at giving incentives to three bus companies, namely Damri, Bus Asia and SJS for their roles in helping to boost the tourism industry in this region.

Tourism and Heritage Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik said that the three bus companies have been providing direct fleets from Pontianak to Brunei and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and they would be given some incentives as recognition for their contribution.

“We realise that the bus companies play a very important role in enabling the mobility of people from Indonesia, Sabah/Sarawak and Brunei to visit one another. So as recognition for their effort, we are looking into how to give incentives to them.

“Among the areas we are looking at now is how the governments of the three countries can reduce the bureaucracies imposed on the buses when crossing the border. One of them is by displaying the BIMP-EAGA tourism logo on the buses,” said Pahon.

He explained that the incentives for express buses providing direct fleets from Pontianak to Brunei and Kota Kinabalu were part of the proposed Borneo Tour Package initiated by the three countries.

“The Borneo Tour Package is a tourism network to encourage the mobility of people from Indonesia, Sabah/Sarawak and Brunei to visit one another. The proposal had been discussed during our first meeting in Kota Kinabalu last month and on July 4 we are going to have a follow-up meeting in Brunei.

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