By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 2: All visitors to Bako National Park will be required to join compulsory guided tours starting in 2026 to ensure a structured experience and strengthen environmental and biodiversity conservation awareness, said Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chew Yew.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Ting explained that the new policy aims to enhance visitor management while ensuring fair and standardised fees for guiding services.
“When this policy is implemented, every visitor will be required to engage a park guide. Fees will be regulated to be fairer and standardised,” he told the media after officiating at the Park Guide Training Course in Bako here today.
At present, Sarawak has 231 active park guides out of 400 licensed guides. With the addition of 31 new trainees currently undergoing training in Bako, the total number will increase to 262, Ting revealed.
He added that under the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), the State government targets to train at least 300 park guides by 2030, meaning Sarawak now only requires 38 more to meet the goal.
Meanwhile, Ting disclosed that Bako National Park recorded more than 47,000 visitors last year, while as of July this year alone, the park has already received 27,000 visitors. The number is expected to equal or surpass last year’s record.
He also expressed his appreciation to the local community, especially residents of Kampung Bako, for taking part in guide training courses and contributing towards strengthening Sarawak’s position as a premier ecotourism destination in the region. — DayakDaily
