Nancy is seen during a photo call at a bamboo house with (from front left) Harry, Miro, and Ting.
BAU: Malaysians should use the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period to visit the many attractions within their own states and throughout the country.
In stating this, federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said now that most local flights have resumed operations, Malaysians can travel and have holidays in any part of the country.
She said the majority of Malaysians have likely not visited many parts of the country or even their own states.
“If not locals, who else is going to support our local tourism, which had been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic? By visiting our own local tourism products, we are actually helping our economy to recover,” she told reporters during her visit to Libiki Bamboo Resort at Kampung Bijuray Mangag, Krokong, here yesterday.
She was leading officials from her ministry as well from the state Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on a visit to several tourism spots in Bau as part of promotional efforts.
Nancy said they visited the places to help rebuild the local economy, especially for those who had been laid off, were not working, or had been unpaid for three months in the tourism sector.
She said the promotional visits sought to help highlight the food, places, and local tourism products.
“You must remember that the new government has launched the stimulus package for people to spend within the country and to ensure the local economy is expanded.
“Our visit to these places today (yesterday) is part of the promotion. We are here to promote our local tourism products and this will be out on our social media. We have people coming with us today to do footage so we can help promote the products here in Bau as well as in other areas in Kuching,” she said.
Nancy said based on feedback received, the hotel industry has started to see an increase in occupancy rate over the past two weeks.
This is good not only for the country’s economy but also to restore the people’s confidence in Malaysia, she said.
“So we are looking for more products that we can help to promote because we want more of our locals especially, to come and enjoy our own tourism products.
“As we have said, local tourism products are not just places but also our culture, arts, nature, and adventure,” she said.
Nancy acknowledged that Bau is very blessed to have so many potential tourism products in the form of resorts, nature, and adventure.
She cited Libiki Bamboo Resort as a reflection of the determination of its owner, whose story should inspire others.
She said the resort has introduced new fruits and new trees that many Sarawakians and Malaysians have never seen.
“So there are a lot of things here that can become part of the storytelling to the people from outside Bau. This place is surrounded by the river, like an island itself, and I hope people will come and enjoy themselves, to stay in this resort,” she said.
Among those present during the visit were Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, and Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.