Ensure tourism events are unique: Sulaiman

MIRI: Deputy Tourism Minister Dato Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman Taib yesterday reminded organisers of tourism events in the state not to replicate other events being held elsewhere in the country.

“We must make sure that these events are unique throughout the country. We shouldn’t replicate other events held in the country by holding them at different times of the year. They must be unique in the whole country,” said Sulaiman when commenting on the Miri International Jazz Festival held over the weekend.

“We won’t want to have a jazz festival every month everywhere in the country. It is important to highlight one major event so that the towns or cities and state where they are held can benefit from this event,” he added.

Sulaiman said Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) had done a very good job in promoting the Miri International Jazz Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival.

Impressed by the rising number of people going to these festivals, Sulaiman cautioned STB not only to maintain but also to enhance the quality and standard of the festivals which were of international level.

Sulaiman pointed out the attraction of the festival was the quality and standard of performing bands which he said must not be any fly-by-night small bands but those with international standing.

“We have seen a rise in the number of people coming for the festival on both nights. The festival promoted growth not only in tourism industry but also brought about other economic spin offs for other industries.”

Pointing out that visitors and tourists required accommodations during their visit here, Sulaiman said all the major hotels including budget hotels here enjoyed brisk business during the festival.

In a survey on most of hotels here, the majority experienced high occupancy rates last week.

The festival was held on Friday and Saturday at the Pavillion of ParkCity Everly Hotel here.

“Most of the people coming here are staying in the hotels and that’s good for the industry and the locals have benefit in many other ways as there were art and crafts and other different stalls set up and I’m sure tourists and visitors purchased their products,” he added.

As many countries are also hosting jazz festivals like the Toronto Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival, Sulaiman added that it was important for the Miri International Jazz Festival to develop its own unique character.

“It is important that Miri should be as a destination which is unique by itself as a lot of people are looking at destinations and the event together and other things they can do here. I think some are coming here because of the jazz festival and the chance to go to Mulu and other places in the state,” he added.

In this context, he encouraged the industry players look into packaging the festival with the other tourism products.

“People from overseas prefer packages as besides the festival they want to know what else they can do. This is why packaging is important.”