‘Promote Miri as a tourist destination’
MIRI: Media personnel who influence people’s mindset through dissemination of information are urged to jointly promote Miri as a preferred tourist destination.
Mayor Adam Yii said the local print, online and electronic media should feature the many aspects of Miri that interest tourists.
Yii said among Miri’s tourism assets and resources are its ethnic diversity and many national parks, including world heritage site Mulu National Park and the prehistoric Niah National Park.
“Ethnic diversity is an asset to our tourism industry in that we can project our colourful costumes, customs and many other features,” Yii said at Gawai and Hari Raya celebration organised by the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association ( NSJA) here on Wednesday night.
Among those present were former mayor, Lawrence Lai and NSJA president Thng Joo Hua.
Yii said Miri is the most ethnically diversified place in Sarawak and probably Malaysia, and that many Sarawakians did not know of the existence of races like the Berawan and Saban.
Mir i had many tour i sm attractions but lacked packaging and promotion. Hence the council would in the next two months promote Miri to local and foreign tourists, including those from Brunei and Singapore.
“Some people in Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore had never been to Miri. We want to attract these people. Encourage your friends in these places to visit us,” Yii suggested.
Earlier Thng thanked the mayor, council, elected representatives, companies, associations and individuals for supporting NSJA which is now 42 years old.
He said non- prof it making association NSJA depended on public donations to carry out its activities including the celebration of Gawai and Hari Raya as one big family by its 120 members.
“Without your support, we can hardly go far,” he added.
Grants were received from Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, Assistant Minister for Local Government Datuk Penguang Manggil and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau who each gave RM5,000 while Assistant Minister for Solidarity Rosey Yunus and Yii gave RM2,000 each.