Abd Karim: Tourism activities allowed from tomorrow

KUCHING: Several tourism and leisure activities in Sarawak will be allowed to operate beginning tomorrow, subject to approval from Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that under this allowance, the local operators of trips and tours, homestays, hotels, adventure and extreme tourism, scubadiving and snorkelling activities, and also theme parks (dry parks only) must comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) and related guidelines established by the SDMC.

Directives such as maintaining social distancing, taking care of personal hygiene, conducting body temperature scans, and sanitising public facilities, must be observed, he said.

“Staff members, guests and contractors must download the MySejahtera and COVIDTrace Sarawak apps to facilitate the necessary contact-tracing.

“Tour operators can receive and sell bookings for domestic packages and activities, which have been allowed by the government. Overseas travel packages are still not allowed at this moment.

“Operators are encouraged to run the promotion of tour packages through online marketing. No promotional exhibition or roadshow is allowed, until they are authorised by the government,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdul Karim also said the tour guides were responsible in ensuring that the compliance with social distancing and personal hygiene requirements would be observed by the tourists under their guidance.

For hoteliers, he said they must limit the capacity of a meeting room or conference hall to 50 per cent from the intended capacity, and attendees must practise the 1m social distancing, whether they were on the move or standing.

“A record of attendees’ details must be kept for at least six months. The operations of the sauna facilities, swimming pools, lounges, pubs, bars, karaokes and buffet restaurants are not allowed,” he said.

Abdul Karim also said the national parks under the management of Sarawak Forestry Corporation would be opened again in stages.

Those set for reopening tomorrow (June 17) are Kubah National Park, Gunung Gading National Park, Tanjong Datu National Park, Santubong National Park and TalangSatang National Park in Kuching; Wind/Fairy Cave National Park in Bau; Batang Ai National Park, Samajaya National Park, Maludam National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, Lambir National Park, Niah National Park, Loagan Bunut National Park and Pulong Tau National Park.

Those set for reopening beginning June 22 are Bako National Park, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (Padawan), Kuching Wetlands National Park and Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park.

“(Under the guidelines) for the national parks, leisure and adventure activities, nature walks, caving, snorkelling and scuba-diving with or without the company of a park guide, wildlife-viewing and expeditions in totally-protected areas and wildlife centres, are allowed.

“However for trekking (leisure), only a group of 10 people is allowed to enter at any one time per trail, while for trekking (adventure), only a minimum of two and a maximum of eight people per group are allowed to enter at any one time per trail. “Only specific forest trails, not exceeding three to five hours walk are allowed to be accessed,” he said.

The minister added that for any adventure caving activity, only a minimum of two and a maximum of eight people per group are allowed to participate at any given time, and every team must be guided.

The detailed SOP can be downloaded via the ministry’s website, mtac. sarawak.gov.my.