By DayakDaily Team
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Aug 14: A RM500,000 project to upgrade tourism facilities in Kampung Pinang is expected to boost fishing activities and enhance the village’s potential as a community tourism destination.
The project, carried out under the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) initiative, provides facilities including gabion retaining walls, an open plaza and gazebos, while street lighting will be added soon.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said the facilities were provided to improve comfort for residents and anglers and to support the growth of tourism activities and the local economy.
“We are improving the facilities here, including providing gabion retaining walls, this plaza and several other facilities such as gazebos. God willing, more facilities will also be added,” she said after the handover ceremony for completed projects under the socio-economic development subcommittee of IRSDA here today, as reported by TVS.
Rubiah, who is also the Kota Samarahan MP, said that Kampung Pinang has the potential to be developed as a community tourism product in tandem with Kota Samarahan’s rapid development.
She said fishing activities could be integrated with homestays, traditional food, culture, and the river ecosystem to attract more domestic and outside visitors.
The initiative is expected to generate economic spillovers for residents while creating more entrepreneurial opportunities in Kampung Pinang.
Meanwhile, she said fishing in Kampung Pinang had become not only a popular activity among residents but also a source of new economic opportunities, particularly for boat operators.
She said the activity had been gaining popularity after being promoted to people from outside the village.
The development had also led to the emergence of three boat operators offering rental services to anglers, she said.
“The response (to boat rentals) is not only coming from villagers, but from people from outside as well, and it is increasing day by day,” she said. — DayakDaily
