KUCHING: Stepping into the new year, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has featured Sarawak to the world during the Matka Nordic Travel Fair 2020, launching three of its key tourism products catered for the Nordic market.
The travel fair is being held from January 16 to 19 at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre, Finland.
The three tourism products launched by STB focus on the uniqueness of Sarawak in the areas of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals.
These include exciting travel and tour packages to Sibu, the gateway to Central Sarawak; Trans-Borneo Cycling, a 14-day trip from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu through Brunei; and the launch of the 23rd edition of the world-renowned Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2020, which will take place in Kuching from July 10 to 12.
Officiating at the launch, STB chief executive officer Sharzede Datuk Salleh Askor said, “These events will create an impact within the Nordic and international markets to enhance the Sarawak brand as part of its Visit Sarawak Campaign 2020.”
Touching on the three products, she said they would like to entice visitors to come and experience Sarawak’s Central region comprising Sibu, Mukah and Kapit, which are brimming with natural wonders as well as diverse cuisine and cultures dominated by the sea-faring Melanaus and the legendary Iban head-hunters.
“This is certainly something off the beaten track and an adventure waiting to be discovered,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said the 14-day Trans-Borneo Cycling challenge trip will cover two countries, eight international crossings, and a total of 1,370 kilometres in twelve cycling days on paved roads along the South China Sea and beaches, through mangrove forests and plantations, stunning landscapes, and villages.
STB is participating at the fair as part of the Tourism Malaysia Pavilion.
In conjunction with the Matka event, there will also be a joint seminar with Tourism Malaysia, the Hague, and Sarawak Tourism on January 21, jointly organised by STB and Tourism Malaysia at the Corendon Village Hotel, Amsterdam.
This will provide an opportunity for Sarawak industry partners to have a session with Dutch tour operators and the media to update and present Sarawak’s new products. The annual Matka Nordic Travel Fair, which is the largest travel fair in Northern Europe, gathers over 70,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors worldwide and is expected to reach an even broader international audience with its increasing global presence.
