VMY 07 shows great promises

Near 80 pct occupancy rate in city hotels looks set to climb as activities heighten this month

KUCHING: Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 looks to be heading for huge success for Sarawak with hotel occupancy rate hitting a new high.

TOURISM PRIZE: Hashimah draws a winner for the ‘Spot the Car Sticker’ contest while Geikie (second right) and Sarawak Tourism Federation president Wee Hong Seng look on.

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Gracie Geikie said if this trend continued it showed that the State’s tourism efforts had not been in vain as most of the major hotels in town were reporting as high as 78 per cent occupancy rate of late.

In making this positive development yesterday, Geikie said: “It is very promising judging from the bookings and reservation of hotels, with occupancy of 80 per cent. And this figure is likely to increase as more tourists come in to Sarawak,” she said during the lucky draw for the ‘Spot the Car Sticker’ contest held in conjunction with VMY 2007 at STB office at Yayasan Sarawak here.

According to Giekie, a cruise - Silver Whisper - from the United Kingdom will be bringing in 480 tourists to the city on Feb 9.

“In the coming two weeks, a chartered flight from China will come in. So, the booking and reservation in not only Kuching but also Sibu, Miri and Bintulu are looking good,” she said, adding that Sarawak had major festivals like the Rainforest World Music and Gawai and these are attracting so many interest among both foreigners and locals.

On AirAsia’s launch of chartered flight to Penang on Feb 7, she said the move was set to enhance Sarawak’s partnership with the island state in promoting tourism between them.

Having quite a number of International direct flights, Penang would be an additional gateway to Sarawak, she pointed out.

Minister of Urban Development and Tourism Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh is expected to officiate at the launching on the evening of Feb 7, which, she said would be followed by a three-day familiarisation (FAM) trip to Penang for local media and tour operators from Feb 9.

The FAM would be led by Assistant Minister of Tourism Hamden Ahmad, she disclosed.

She said dialogue sessions with the tourism board and tour operators in Penang would also be held to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

To a question, she said the board had yet to obtain any figure from the Federal government regarding the total tourist arrivals or outcome of the first month since the VMY campaign started.

Earlier, VMY 2007 head of secretariat Hashimah Nik Jaafar assured that rural regions would not be left out in the year-long nationwide campaign.

“Definitely approaches to promote VMY in rural and urban areas will be different. In places where road access is not easy, we will run the campaign through television or radio, which is what we are doing now.”

She said courses in English and Bahasa Malaysia would be organised throughout the State for taxi operators to enlighten them on the concept of the campaign besides helping enhance their language command.

“They are basically meant to teach them how to greet and communicate with customers in English and will focus more on courtesy,” she said.

According to her, 30 taxi operators are taking part in a two-day course which will end later today. Similar courses will also be organised in Kapit in March, Sibu, Miri, including in rural Bario and Ba’Kelalan.

“At least 2,000 from government and the private sector will benefit from these courses, which is a joint effort with the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board,” Hashimah said.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Rumpang, owner of KT3910Q won the grand prize of the contest ‘Spot the Car Sticker’, a 3-day-2-night trip to Langkawi for two persons inclusive of airfares and accommodation.

Lai Kim Lian (HQ1097) was the second prize winner, going home with a 3D-2N trip to Kuala Lumpur for two persons, inclusive of airfares and accommodation, while Catherine Torrie (QMH3591) won the third prize of a 3D-2N trip to Kota Kinabalu for two persons, also inclusive of airfares and accommodation.

Lucky persons who had been awarded hotel vouchers of 2N-1D stay inclusive of breakfast for two persons were Bongsam Para (QMF2030) - Tanahmas Hotel, Sibu; Ismawi Mohammad (QTE1731) - Paramount Hotel, Sibu; Collin Empanit (QKU5257) - Mega Hotel, Miri; Saba Jana (QRC9313) - Dynasty Hotel, Miri; and Lee Siaw Kuek (HQ901) - Parkcity Everly Hotel, Miri.

Those receiving meal vouchers for two persons were Azman Mahli (QKU6789) - Euro Friday buffet dinner at Cafe Majestic, Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching; Jep Gindep@Nyobong Giniab (QKU4217) - BBQ Steamboat buffet dinner at Blue Lagoon, Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching; Kepli Mohamad (QRC1797) - Surf & Turf BBQ buffet dinner at Holiday Inn Kuching; Abang Bakeri (QAC1247) - dinner unlimited at Meisan Szechuan Restaurant, Holiday Inn Kuching; Mazuki Ekeram (QRC 6026) - Coffee Master of Somerset Gateway Kuching; Zaidi Mohamad (QKS4821) - buffet lunch or dinner at the Valentine Cafe, Paramount Hotel Sibu; Uyang Jau (QMK3432) and Leo Unting (QKK3704) - dinner at Treez, Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resort Kuching; Junai Ajah (QRD2960) - buffet lunch at Zest Restaurant at Miri Resort and SPA; and James Bo (QSK7694) - International buffet lunch at Grand Palace Hotel, Miri.

Written By:
The Borneo Post
3rd February 2007