KUCHING, March 24: The Batang Ai reservoir has huge tourism potential to be unlocked as it is strategically located, by surrounded the natural beauty of Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said tourism players in the state are encouraged to look into this potential and help develop Batang Ai as an ecotourism hub.
“By setting up more resorts and facilities for visitors and tourists here, more people would be willing to come to Batang Ai to experience and enjoy its lush green nature,” he said during the launching ceremony of Pesta Batang Ai yesterday (March 23, 2019).
Batang Ai is located some 270km from Kuching by road, and 90km from the nearest town of Sri Aman.
Currently there is only one resort in Batang Ai — Aiman Batang Ai Resort and Retreat — located near the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Dam.
Awang Tengah noted the state government had provided grants and assistance to help entrepreneurs especially the rural ones to help kickstart whatever businesses they are delving into, and aspiring tourism industry players can take this opportunity to start their resort or tourism related entrepreneurship in Batang Ai.
“It is up to the people to figure out what is the best service they can offer (to visitors and tourists) because the state government is ever willing to help in terms of financial and development in that effort,” he said.
Among those present during the ceremony were Assistant Minister for E-Commerce and Assistant Minister for Entrepreneur and Small, Medium Enterprise (SME) Datuk Naroden Majais, Batang Ai assemblyman Malcolm Mussen Lamoh and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan. — DayakDaily
