‘B&Bs offer more lodging options to tourists’
KUCHING: The proposal to turn certain apartments into bed-andbreakfast (B&B) accommodation can help attract more tourists to come to Sarawak.
In stating this, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting believes that with the establishment of more B&Bs, it would provide more options to tourists, as not all of them would want to stay at hotels.
“I think it’s a good idea. With such facility, I think more tourists, especially the budget travellers, would want to check out Sarawak, which has a lot to offer to visitors,” he told reporters after witnessing a lion-dance showcase hosted by the Malaysian Hakka Cultural Society Sarawak at CityONE Megamall here yesterday, where Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii was also present.
On Saturday, Chief Minister
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg disclosed that he had asked the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, as well as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to study the proposal of turning certain apartments into B&B accommodation – a trend that is already established in Indonesia,
Australia and many parts of Europe.
According to him, at the moment the Sarawak government has yet to draft any regulation regarding this ‘sharing basis accommodation’ – it would need to study those being exercised Australia and perhaps, in neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Singapore.
Meanwhile, the showcase yesterday marked the successful attempt by the Malaysian Hakka Cultural Society Sarawak to get into the Malaysia Book of Records ( MBR) for having the ‘Most Number of Hakka Lion Heads in a Performance’.
The performance involved 71
Hakka lion heads.
Later, an MBR representative presented a certificate to acknowledge the feat’s entry into the records book.
In his remarks, Malaysian Hakka Cultural Society Sarawak chairman Michael Leong expressed his pride over the achievement, adding that his team had been working very hard to achieve the record.
“This is just one of the ways for our organisation to preserve the culture of the Hakka Chinese community.
“We do this to get more youngsters to participate in the cultural activities and also for them to recognise the heritage of my people.
“We are so proud of this achievement.
“We hope that our branch could achieve more feats like this in the future – all in the name of promoting Hakka arts and culture,” he said.
Leong also believed that the dream of setting up a Hakka Chinese cultural centre in Sarawak would materialise one day.
“We are thinking about setting up something that we can call a ‘Hakka Village’ in Sarawak. It can be the right place to promote the culture of my people, apart from functioning as a tourist attraction,” he added.
I think it’s a good idea. With such facility, I think more tourists, especially the budget travellers, would want to check out Sarawak, which has a lot to offer to visitors. Datuk Sebastian Ting