MIRI, April 21 (Bernama) -- Fierce competition among the stakeholders in Sarawak's tourism industry will surely stunt its growth as one of the major revenue earners, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Friday.

 

He said they should learn to cooperate, citing the case of an international chain resort at the World Heritage Site of Mulu in Miri division which suffered huge losses due to competition from petty tourism operators.

 

"Luckily the big hotel operator in Mulu was loyal to me but such unhealthy competition will destroy the industry," he said when closing a seminar on "Preparing For The Future: A Greater Miri 2020" organised by the Miri City Incorporated.

 

Taib said Miri, which was declared a Resort City on May 20 last year, would be developed as a gateway to Sarawak but the local authorities needed to instil a certain level of discipline and cooperation between the private and public sectors.

 

It was important to coordinate tourism events and activities to promote Miri, which has world class attractions including Mulu National Park, Niah Caves as well as its unique cultural heritage, he said. He said ensuring the city was safe and healthy was an important prerequisite to attract tourists besides providing infrastructure and generating economic opportunities.

 

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan, who also addressed the seminar, said a Miri regional study commissioned by the state government last year estimated that Miri contributed about 30 per cent of Sarawak's gross domestic product.

 

He said tourism would continue to play an important role in Miri, with the coastal area from Luak Bay to Beraya designated as the tourism belt, the Dibut-Niah area as the fruit belt while Lambir, Longan Bunut and Niah national parks were meant for hill resorts.

 

An educational belt to the north of Miri was home to three institutions of higher learning, including Curtin University of Technology, with a Biotechnology Valley in its vicinity.