Miri will receive RM2.38 million to promote tourism in 2017, which is nearly double the RM1.2 million allocated last year.
Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture YB Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this in response to a question from Piasau assemblyman YB Dato’ Sebastian Ting during the third day of the 1st Meeting of the 2nd Term of the 18th State Legislative Assembly on 15th May, 2017.
He explained that the allocation would be used to conduct promotional activities, and organise events and festivals throughout the year.
Among the promotional activities carried out by the Ministry included a tactical campaign positioning Miri and Mulu National Park as twin destinations, promotions as a movie-filming venue to highlight the unique attractions around Miri, and also participation in various travel fairs in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei as well as in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Johor and Penang.
Other activities included familiarisation trips to cover Miri and its surrounding attractions, digital promotions via Miri City Council’s ‘Miri App’, and the promotion of diving and deep sea fishing packages in Luconia.
Aside from that, Sarawak Tourism Board will produce a series of five brochures, which will feature Miri as the entry point into Mulu National Park and also highlight places of interest in Miri for transit and stopover stays.
Miri also has seven tourism-related projects approved for 2017, namely the development of facilities at Bakam Point (RM5 million), upgrading of Wireless Walk (RM5 million), development of facilities at Tusan Beach (RM5 million), upgrading of Sungai Tujuh CIQ entry road to dual carriageway (RM1.2 million), conversion of old Resident & District Office into a cultural and heritage museum (RM400,000), upgrading of tourism infrastructure and facilities at Niah National Park (RM3.4 million), and repair works on Petroleum Science Museum (RM150,000).
This year, the 13 tourism-related events planned for Miri included the Miri International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament, Borneo International Yachting Challenge, Borneo Jazz, Miri Country Music Festival, Pesta Nukenen, Miri International 300 Run, Runners Wild Bario, Majlis Makan Tahunan Perdana Subis, Permai Motocross Challenge, Sarawak Highland Folk Music Festival, Miri Marathon, Sarawak International Triathlon and Miri Gong Xi Fa Cai Bazaar.
