SIBU: Promote Sibu as the gateway to the central region, says Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hii Chang Kee.
He added that the local council, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), plays an important role in promoting the town to the world.
“We should promote Sibu as a gateway to the central region. If you just promote Sibu as a town, tourists will stay for a day or two at most.
“But, if you promote Sibu as gateway to the central region and show tourists what Sibu, Mukah, Sarikei, Kapit and Bintangor have to offer, I think tourists can actually make Sibu as gateway to go to those places and come back to Sibu again to depart to other parts of Sarawak or other parts in Malaysia.
“So, tourists not only know Sibu as a town but as a gateway to the central region,” said Hii during the SMC annual appreciation dinner 2017 at Tanahmas Hotel here on Wednesday .
Apart from the council, the permanent secretary revealed that the tourism industry players and hotels could also promote Sibu as gateway to the central region.
“You (tourism industry players and hotels) may promote Sibu as a gateway to the central region with special packages like how many days in Sibu and then go beyond Sibu.
“Make the tourists experience the central region maybe for three to four days or even a week may not be enough for them if they want to go to Kapit, Mukah, Sarikei and Bintangor.
“Central region could be well spend for good tourists experience,” he explained.
Hii added that the tourism industry needed to be more creative and the council would have a major role in that.
“I think all councils like SMC are doing their part by being more proactive like organising the Visit Sibu Year 2017.
“Tourism is not your main core business but you have done it because you included or you have regarded tourism as one of your so called business.
“Because it helps you to promote the town and it will help you to make a name for Sibu, especially through Visit Sibu Year,” he said.
Also present at the event were Chairman of SMC, Datuk Tion Thai King, Deputy Chairlady of SMC, Rogayah Jemain, Acting Secretary of SMC, Jong Thian Fuk and Sibu Resident, Charles Siaw.
