Ba Kelalan highland ecotourism sector expected to expand — Awg Tengah

BA KELALAN: The ecotourism sector in Ba Kelalan which is well-known for its highland tourism products is expected to continue expanding as the country shi s into the endemic phase of Covid-19.

The development of the sector will be supported and driven by the Sarawak government’s plan to build and upgrade roads in Ba Kelalan which will be integrated with the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project and expected to be completed in the next few years.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said through the new road infrastructure facilities, Ba Kelalan – famous for its beautiful mountain landscape, hill padi or Adan rice cultivation and hill salt wells – will continue to be a popular tourist destination in the Land of the Hornbills.

“Ba Kelalan’s hill salt for instance, is of high quality and the unique and conventional art of producing salt by the Lun Bawang community here, has also become an a raction.

“To further promote this ecotourism initiative, we will work on improving the product packaging by preserving its traditional elements that highlight the originality and significance of Lun Bawang ethnic art.

“Indeed, we need to move with the time, but we must not run away from the traditional way of doing things, which adds to the uniqueness and beauty of the product,” he told Bernama following his recent visit to several ecotourism locations in Ba Kelalan during which he was accompanied by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong who is also Lawas MP.

“Tourists who come here can have a hand in the salt production process. We also encourage the salt producers here to display their products which can be purchased by visitors as souvenirs or gi s,” he added.