Shift focus to special-interest tourism, local players encouraged
MIRI: Associations, clubs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) here should strive to run more events and activities meant to promote Special Interest Tourism (SIT), befitting Miri’s status as a ‘Resort City’.
In defining SIT, Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin described it as the provision of customised tourism activities catering to the specific interests of individuals and groups.
“In this case (SIT), tourism is undertaken to satisfy a particular interest or need. SIT consists of four main experiences – rewards, enrichment, adventuresome experiences and learning experiences,” he said in his opening address for Miri International Motoday 2019 at Permymall last Saturday night, where the event’s chief coordinator Awang Yassin Awang Basar was also present.
Still on SIT, Lee regarded it as one of the fastest growing segments within the tourism industry.
“Accordingly, there is a need for new tourism products, services and experiences that cater to these markets.
“Trekking, biking, cycling and hiking are examples of landbased SIT,” he said.
Adding on, Lee said tourism event organisers should not only focus on the environment of a place, but also on activities or programmes that could attract people to flock to Miri.
Events such as bikers gathering or ‘motoday’ could be regarded as a crowd-puller promoting SIT, he added.
In this respect, the minister expressed his hope of seeing more similar events take place in the future.
On Miri International Motoday 2019, Lee viewed it as “a good event that could help promote Miri as a bikers’ destination”.
“(In) previous years, we had had similar bikers’ events, but only with few hundred participants.
“But today, there are about 5,000 bikers taking part. I must congratulate the organiser for a job well done,” he said.
Jointly organised and run by Yamaha Y15ZR Miri Motorbike Club, Alfera Project and Mortard Club Miri, the event hosted participants from here, Bintulu, Sibu, Kuching, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and also Brunei.
Meanwhile, in the ‘Motoday’ grand lucky draw, Fletcher Nelson from Senadin won the grand prize – a Yamaha R15 Monster worth around RM16,000.
Malaysian rock singer Bandi Amuk was among the entertainers at the event.