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KUCHING, June 18: The Sarawak Delta national geopark should emulate Jeju Island’s visibility in obtaining Unesco Global Geopark’s (UGGp) status.
Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, during his recent visit to South Korea, was impressed with the infrastructure, facilities, and accessibility to the geosites, namely Manjanggul Lava Tube, Gimnyeong Geo trail, Sanbangsan Mountain, Yongmeori Coast, and Suwolbong Tuff Ring in Jeju Island.
He expressed the need to emulate Jeju Unesco Global Geopark to improve the connectivity and accessibility to geosites in Sarawak.
“The island demonstrated that the visibility of geopark is crucial to attracting visitors and promoting its unique geological features.
“Signage and interpretation within a geopark are important for guiding visitors and enhancing their understanding of geological, biological and cultural heritage features,” he said in a statement issued last night (June 17).
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), further said that with the UGGp branding, Sarawak Delta could stimulate economic activities within the framework of sustainable development and further boost the tourism industry in Sarawak in tandem with Sarawak’s reputation to preserve its natural treasures.
He elaborated that geo-branding aims to promote local tourism attractions by integrating unique geological resources, various narratives of surrounding communities, speciality foods produced in the geosites and a series of events and activities leveraging the natural environment, history, food, and folklore of local communities as well as cultural aspects of geological features.
“We will develop our geosites as part of our geopark branding efforts, which indirectly will have significant socio-economic benefits to our local communities through the creation of more business and job opportunities.
“This initiative will also integrate conservation and preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage while increasing the income of our people. We have waterfalls, mountains, caves, and beaches, which potentially to be enhanced through geo-branding,” he added.
The Sarawak delegation to Jeju Island included Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts/Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh and MUDeNR permanent secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi. — DayakDaily
