MIRI: Sarawak will be the first in the country to have an e-tourism portal to market and promote the state’s tourism products.

“Such a marketing and promotion application is not yet available in the country. We will be the first to introduce such a portal,” Minister of Urban Development and Tourism Datuk Michael Manyin Jawong disclosed to the reporters during a visit to Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort here yesterday.

“We are now actually getting some input from outside and getting those who have the expertise to brief us on this concept. We need RM3 million to RM4 million to create the portal,” says Manyin, adding that the application has been successfully implemented in other countries such as in Singapore and Europe.

Asked on how soon Sarawak will come out with the portal, Manyin said it depends on the capability of the experts which include all the technical aspects.

“I don’t want people to do it half-heartedly. Through the portal, tourists will be able to plan and make bookings at the comfort of their homes, 24 hours a day. They can book directly through the internet without having to go through any agency,” he added.

On another matter, Manyin disclosed that the ministry and Sarawak Tourism Board are now putting in more emphasis on tourism products rather than events in marketing and promoting Sarawak as a tourism destination in the country and region.

In this context, he commended the efforts from the private sectors such as Henry Law Ing Hua, through Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort to develop the tourism industry which will not only bring benefit to the operator but also the community at large by providing jobs and other opportunities.

Manyin assured of the ministry’s assistance to market and promote the resort.

He also urged the local tourism players to cooperate with bigger players abroad to capture and penetrate the bigger market and learn to come out with tour packages.

Manyin said it will affect the quality and standard of the industry if they start to undercut each other through competition.