By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Oct 22: Exploring the possibility of direct flights from key hub destinations overseas to Kuching is part of Sarwak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 in terms of tourism.
As Sarawak is part of an island, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said there is no option but for foreigners to fly here, thus easy connectivity is key.
“Connectivity is very important for Sarawak to get people to come over without any hassle.
“I’ve had that experience before when I wanted to promote Sarawak overseas, and one of the feedback I got from overseas visitors was that one has to fill up an immigration form in KL, and the second immigration form in Kuching when arriving in Sarawak.
From that particular feedback, Abang Johari noted the importance of not just connectivity, but easy and convenient connectivity to Sarawak, thus his request to the tourism minister to look into more of such possibilities.
While this concerns connecting Sarawak to the rest of the world, he said another key factor to improve Sarawak tourism would be the enhancement of public infrastructure so that tourists could move freely around cities and towns.
With user-friendly, high-technology and convenient facilities in mind, digital economy is the way forward, he stressed.
“That’s why we’ve set aside quite a huge sum of funds to develop our digital infrastructure, not only through fibre optics, but also through other means.
“Sometimes, you can’t connect through fibre optics because it takes time due to the size of Sarawak. But there is another technology available now, where you have this floating sort of device that can transmit data to the ground.
“We are exploring that sort of infrastructure while at the same time building our land infrastructure including fibre optics,” he said during the launching ceremony of Kuching as part of the Hybrid City Alliance in a local hotel here today.
Of course, Abang Johari added, professionals and talents albe to handle these devices and such technology must be trained. — DayakDaily
