TANJUNG MANIS: The Tanjung Manis Fishing Safari will be included in the Sarawak Tourism Calendar following the overwhelming response to the 18th edition of the event.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, said that sport fishing activities are increasingly attracting the interest of international tourists and, if officially placed in the state’s tourism calendar, would further stimulate Sarawak’s tourism sector.
“Just now, the General Manager of the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (PUSAKA), Zainal Abidin Abdullah, proposed that the Tanjung Manis Fishing Safari be included in the Sarawak Tourism Calendar.
“I will direct the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, to ensure this programme is included in the tourism calendar so that we can develop it further to attract anglers from abroad,” he said.
He made the remarks when delivering his speech at the closing ceremony of the Tanjung Manis Fishing Safari here on Sunday.
Citing the example of Telaga Air, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari pointed out that anglers from Singapore are willing to travel to Sarawak on weekends solely to venture out to sea for fishing.
“This has the potential to become an industry, forming part of tourism that is closely linked to fishing activities,” he added.
This year’s event was made more memorable when the Premier himself went out to sea to experience fishing firsthand, while also observing the effectiveness of artificial reefs that have been deployed along Sarawak’s waters.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS), Datuk Abdullah Saidol, Member of Parliament for Tanjung Manis, Ir Yusuf Abdul Wahab, General Manager of PUSAKA, Zainal Abidin Abdullah, Mukah Division Resident, Datu Kueh Lei Poh along with other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
