Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Laksa cookbook adds spice to Sarawak tourism


KUCHING: The launch of the MUSC Sarawak Laksa Cookbook augurs well in demonstrating the diversity in food here, with plans this year to popularize Sarawak fare in the Middle East.

Speaking at its launch yesterday, Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the cookbook could serve as a guide to chefs here on the various creative ways to use laksa
paste.

“This year, we plan on bringing our Sarawak food to Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he added later.

“One of our attractions is our food,” he said, after announcing that tourist arrivals in Sarawak for January and February was over 700,000, a six per cent increase compared to last year for the same period.

Abang Johari pointed out that February tends to be a ‘lean month’, but the number of conventions in Kuching this year played a role in bumping up the figure.

“We anticipate we may get 4.5 million tourists this year. Last year, we achieved 4.1 million. The reason being because of additional flights, we now have direct Kuching-Penang and Kuching-Kota Bharu flights.”

According to feedback garnered, visitors find Sarawak to be quite safe to visit, he said.

Abang Johari also hinted that he will be launching a diving spot with historical value in May, and which will also attract visitors to the state.

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