Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Local festivals can draw tourists to Sarawak

LOCAL festivals should be commercialised into a tourism product to attract foreign tourists.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said that foreign tourists who visited the state would be keen to participate in these festivals which were rich in culture and heritage.

“We have to start thinking global as to how to attract people to visit the state and local festivals are something that are an attraction to tourists,” he said at the City Day commemoration and launch of Kuching Festival at the man-made lake at MBKS Kuching Garden on Sunday evening.

He said it was important to ensure that the money and time of the tourists was well spent while they were on holiday.

He said the local business community could also generate income from the festivals, including the annual Kuching Festival and Sarawak Regatta.

“So far, no one has thought of how to make money from the Kuching Festival, which has much to offer to tourists,” he added.

“For instance, food stall owners could charge those who want to try their hands at cooking local food,” he noted.

Dr Chan believed that Kuching Festival could be profitable as long as it had the ingredients to attract tourists.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Local festivals can draw tourists to Sarawak
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