Form consortium to boost industry, tour operators told

MIRI: Tour operators are urged to form a consortium of sorts in order to further explore the tourism potential in this city which is also an effort to boost the local industry.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin suggested this when chairing a business networking session between Malindo Air and the local tourism stakeholders at Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) on Friday.

“The Ministry of Tourism plays role by providing a platform

The Ministry of Tourism plays role by providing a platform for travel and tour operators to promote their products and services. — Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture

for travel and tour operators to promote their products and services.

“Thus, it is important for the tour operators to join any tourism events organised by the ministry.”

Lee added that now that there is an international flight between Pontianak and Miri operated by Wings Air, Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman, wanted the tour operators to fully tap the tourism potentials brought about by the new route.

He also said the state government was very keen to work with Malindo Air to create more international flights between various provinces in Indonesia and Miri.

“Now is the right time for tour operators to set up a consortium to explore more destinations and also to strengthen their presence.

“You cannot do things alone in the tourism industry. We have to work with others in the industry.”

Lion Air’s senior sales manager Mochamad Helmi and Malindo Air’s director of government affairs Raja Sa’adi Raja Amrin were also present at the session.

Lee, meanwhile, requested Helmi to retime the departure flight from Miri to Pontianak at 6.50pm earlier so that the business community here would be able to catch the next connecting flight to Jakarta.

Helmi said he would bring the matter to the attention of his management back home.