State to study how the Maldives achieves success in tourism

The Tourism and Heritage Ministry hopes to replicate some of Maldives’ successful tourism models for the state’s benefit.

Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said he would travel next week with some officers from the ministry on a study mission to the Maldives.

He said the Maldives was a country which had gained success in the international tourism market by promoting the natural beauty of its tropical islands.

“They have water bodies which they have turned into tourist attractions. In Sarawak, we do not have an ocean but have beautiful rivers and lakes as a result of our dam development.

“We want to study how the Maldives turned their lakes and islands into tourist attractions,” he told reporters at the UiTM Alumni Association Hari Raya gathering here yesterday.

Johari said since more dams would be built in Sarawak, more lakes and islands were expected to be created.

As such, he said the state must have early planning to turn the dams, lakes and islands into tourism products upon their completion.

“After the trip, the ministry will work on new strategies to identify and develop the tourism products. We want to be on par with other countries in terms of tourism and have our own natural attractions.

“We have rich biodiversity and our water bodies will surely be attractions for tourists in the years to come,” he said.

Johari said he had discussed with MASwings the possibility of buying the new generation Twin Otter aircraft equipped with floats costing US$500,000 (RM1.5mil) to land on water as well.

“If MASwings can bring in this aircraft, it will be a solution to the logistics problem we face in Sarawak,” he said.