Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang has expressed his disappointment with the actions of these tour agents, which he said he had heard of on the ground.
"I heard these tour agencies, rather than promoting the local attractions here, lacked professionalism and they dont really market these attractions.
"For example, I heard that some of these agents discredited some attractions here, saying that it was too expensive and some other excuses," he told reporters yesterday. Lo said this kind of attitude would give Sarawak a bad name to the visitors and tourists coming here to experience what the state is all about.
When asked if it was because these agents wanted to pocket commission by bringing visitors and tourists to other attractions they recommended, Lo said it was a possibility but it should not be an excuse to throw professionalism out the window. Because of that, he said, following a request from Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud early this year, the council was embarking on a five-year tourism master plan, which would be revealed sometime in the middle of next year.
Lo said the work on the plan was led and consulted by Universiti Teknologi Maras Department of Tourism Management. "We were asked to come up with a five-year tourism master plan that includes the role of Lundu, Bau and Serian district councils for implementation beginning next year. We would work together to develop the region from Sampadi in Lundu all the way to Serikin in Bau, Borneo Heights in Padawan and Tebedu in Serian. Once implemented, it should be able to offer more tourist attractions.
The Star: August 29, 2012