KUCHING: DayakDaily’s inaugural D’Drift programme was lauded by Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
During the flag-off ceremony, Abdul Karim said the effort would be a boon to the state’s local eco-tourism industry after being heavily affected by the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the media plays a significant role in promoting and showcasing eco-tourism products in unison with the ministry’s efforts to build up confidence towards the state’s local products in tourism.
“The best people who would be able to write on this are the media themselves, complete with pictures and all.
“That’s why I am very encouraged to hear that DayakDaily has made the effort to go down to the ground and be there themselves,” he commended.
He mentioned that one of the many places to be visited by the DayakDaily team include Gunung Buda National Park in Limbang which offers scenery on par with another well-known tourist attraction, Mulu National Park.
Abdul Kari, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, added that the initiative to put Gunung Buda on Sarawak’s tourism map will be put forward in the future.
“Hopefully with the media going to these places and showcasing them to the world, then not only Sarawakians will know about these places but also the world,” he added.
According to DayakDaily, D’Drift is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) event whereby reporters will interview people in the interior and be a voice for those who are seldom featured by mainstream media.
Through this, Abdul Karim said it was a good way to show to the world Sarawakians’ harmonious lifestyle and the development that has been progressing in the urban and rural areas.
“If possible, this event should be made an annual event. We can inject funds into it and it can be done together by the media fraternity as it is a good way to promote the state’s heritage and domestic tourism,” he added.
The team comprising Lian Cheng, Peter Sibon and Karen Bong will go through a 10-day adventure programme from Kuching to Limbang which began today (June 29) to July 8 and write feature stories to highlight the lifestyle of the people living in small towns and those in rural settlements.
