By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 24: The Serian District Council (SDC) is keen to study the potential of developing Kampung Belimbing in Padawan into a tourism destination following the discovery of a Rafflesia flower in the nearby mountain area.
In a statement, SDR chairman Dato Peter Minos said the council is prepared to work with the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) and the local community once official research on the newly found Rafflesia site is completed.
“If there are genuine local interest and initiative, SDC will look into how the village can be developed for tourism,” he said.
Minos said that the Rafflesia is a rare flower and the FDS has been searching for it in the mountains between Lundu and Serian for years.
“The department has done a lot of research and studies on the flower and is continuing to do so. The size aide, tourists love the flower for its rarity and uniqueness,” he said.
He also added that if a Rafflesia flower is found near a village, it is seen as a sign of good fortune as it can attract local and foreign tourists, boosting the area’s tourism sector.
“With the development of homestays, jungle walks and cultural activities, your village can benefit from tourism revenue,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minos thanked Kampung Belimbing for bringing the SDC, FDS, and Felcra together for talks on the Rafflesia flower. — DayakDaily
