KUCHING: The Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism is currently developing an e-tourism portal.

“Keeping abreast with time, the ministry is embarking on the e-tourism portal that will enable booking transactions, beside the conventional information dissemination,” said its minister Datuk Michael Manyin Jawong.

“The portal is meant to enhance the tourism industry and its implementation will directly involve industry players.”

Manyin added that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) had changed the tourism industry in recent years.

More than 60 per cent of travel bookings were now made through the Internet.

Manyin said his ministry recently convened the State Tourism Steering Committee involving key tourism stakeholders.

“We want to chart the direction of the tourism industry; the direction that takes into account affirmative strategies for all the key components of the tourism industry value chain, including product development, marketing and promotion, role of tour operators and agents, hotels, among others,” he said.

He said the approach was consultative and open to input, feedback and criticism.

Manyin revealed that he had received quite a few suggestions and criticisms since he took over the ministry a few months ago.

“We will not stop here in the pursuit of new ideas and feedback. We will soon go and meet key players to hear their views.”

He pointed out that the ministry was allowing tourism industry players to propose alternative plans to help formulate policies.

“If you keep quiet, you will give the wrong impression that you are happy and well. We want you to tell us the views of the industry,” he explained.