By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 5: The launch of ‘e-Pelancongan’ online learning programme is Sarawak’s small step towards sparking off interests among the people in a community-based tourism in the state.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee said the free-of-charge four-module online course is now available for everyone to access and participate.
“These modules are now available not only to Grab drivers but to everybody including taxi drivers, schools students or housewives.
“You can all learn through this program on how to become an ambassador of Sarawak’s tourism as you know more about the cities like Kuching, Sibu and Miri,” he said.
He further introduced that the four modules in the course which are only available in Malay language at the moment are tourism awareness, responsible tourism, business events and Sarawak Tourism Ambassador Program.
Hii also revealed that more modules would be added in the future and they would come in multiple languages such as English and Mandarin.
Meanwhile, he said tourism should not only benefit tour guides, tour companies or destination owners, but also to the local communities.
“In the SEAC (Sarawak Economic Action Council) aspiration, tourism is not supposed to only be benefitting to tour guides or tour companies or destination owners, but it aspires to trigger the effect of tourism benefits to the local communities.
“It should also benefit the people who are actually staying around the destination. This is very important,” he explained in his welcoming speech during the launch of the PANDei ePelancongan Course at Imperial Hotel earlier today.
The launch was officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah together with Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting. – DayakDaily
