By George Francis
MIRI - Royal Brunei Airlines
should consider having flight connections between Bandar Seri
Begawan and Miri for greater tourism markets, said Sarawak Chief
Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
"RBA and other
international airlines should be made aware of the tourist
potential in Miri which is endowed with many natural and
cultural advantages," Taib said at the state dinner for
delegates of the National Tourism Development committee meeting
here recently.
According to him, a link
between Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri would serve to attract more
visitors or tourists to both Brunei and Sarawak. He also said
that the Miri private sector is also very active, and could be
forged together with Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to
further develop the tourism industry.
"As such, RBA could
consider having connecting flights between Bandar Seri Begawan
and Miri," said Taib, adding that he knew that Bruneians
themselves had been attracted to Miri by the shopping and
various kinds of fruits.
Taib said that Miri should
develop more products to offer as more visitors come more often
from Brunei, and as they would be looking for a different kind
of entertainment, such as a beach festival which is planned to
be held annually starting this year.
He added that the international
Miri-Labuan-Miri yacht race in September could also attract
participation from local Bruneian and expatriates.
Through the East Asean Growth
Area, he said, Sarawak and Sabah were also working closely with
Brunei Darussalam in the tourism sector.
"Promoting Sarawak is not
an easy task since air linkage still an obstacle and that
cooperation to develop tourism must be strengthened with Sabah
and Peninsula Malaysia plus Singapore," said the Chief
Minister.
In this context, Taib called on
airline companies to have a broad perspective by working
together towards creating new routes even though it may not be
lucrative in the initial stages
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