Rokiah Mahmud
Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong at the ongoing 17th LegCo session yesterday suggested the installation of signboards at several strategic locations to highlight the proximity and provide directions to places of interest in the country.
The signboards should be placed along roads or pathways leading to a particular place of interest or facility to help draw tourists’ arrival, in an effort to boost development in the country, he said.
Now is the suitable time to focus on the development of places of interest and potential tourism products before the re-opening of borders, he added. In his response, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong said the ministry will further discuss the matter prior to implementation.
Meanwhile, Yang Berhormat Haji Mohimin bin Haji Johari @ Jahari suggested that the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) to open more investment tenders either through foreign direct investment (FDI), government-linked company (GLC) or public-private partnership (PPP) to tourism sites that have the potential to be developed.
In response to the suggestion, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali said it is already part of his ministry’s strategies to emphasise on sustainability and provide incentives to greater utilisation of MPRT’s funding.
The minister said this incentive has been implemented for many MPRT’s development projects including building 30 luxury chalets in Kampong Perdayan in Temburong District.
The project began its construction in the middle of last year and is expected to be completed and open by the end of this year.
The ministry also offered local and foreign investment to manage the Ulu Ulu Resort in Temburong and Teraja in Mukim Labi in an effort to make it a one-stop centre for tourists
and students.
Several requests for proposal (RFP) have been issued to further develop areas that has been gazetted for tourism such as amusement parks and restaurants, the minister added.
