KUCHING: Achieving a sustainable tourism industry is ‘a marathon’ that requires consistent efforts and commitment from all stakeholders involved including the host country, tourism players, local population and visitors.
In this respect, Dr Linda J Cox stresses that the path towards sustainable tourism is a long journey that is beset with challenges and thus, one must skilfully navigate it to achieve win-win situation for all parties.
KUCHING: As Malaysia further develops the area of sustainable tourism, it could take a leaf out of Hawaii’s book in terms of its application of a sustainable certification programme in the tourism industry.
Dr Linda J. Cox, a community economic development specialist at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, revealed that Hawaii’s sustainable certification programme educates operators and stakeholders on best management practices (BMPs) for natural and cultural resources.
With more tourists looking for authentic experiences and responsible tourism at their travel destinations, it is vital for the Sarawak tourism industry to embrace sustainable practices.
It is against this backdrop that Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) in collaboration with the US Embassy Kuala Lumpur is organizing a half day talk on “Sustainable Tourism” on 13 September 2019 in Kuching.
The talk titled, “What is Sustainable Tourism and Case Study in Hawaii”, aims to share new trends and updates about sustainable tourism and learn how to integrate sustainable practices with local tourism products.
The talk will be conducted by Dr. Linda J. Cox, a Community Economic Development Specialist at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Linda J. Cox has authored and co-authored nearly 200 articles and publications on the economic relationships between agriculture and tourism; landscape services; agricultural product marketing; business, human and natural resource management; and other related topics.
Dr. Cox has organized and taught short courses, workshops and seminars on a variety of issues including business management, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development across the State of Hawaii, and taught several graduate and undergraduate courses, served in a variety of leadership positions and was accepted on the Fulbright Senior Specialists Roster. She has also co-owned and managed a Montana-based real estate development and management firm.
About 100 participants including AZAM members, the local tourism players (public and private), lecturers and students of tourism courses, government officers of the relevant agencies, non-profit organisations, local magazines and media practitioners are expected to attend the talk.
AZAM’s collaboration with the US Embassy Kuala Lumpur on activities such as public lecture, forum and media workshop dated back as far as the 1990s as part of efforts to help impart information and knowledge on current developmental concerns to local communities and other development stakeholders in Sarawak, featuring American speakers who are experts in diverse fields.
For more information, please contact AZAM Sarawak Communication Officer Nissa Normin at 082-411799 or email nissa@azam.org.my.
KUCHING: Dengan lebih banyak aplikasi dan laman web yang ada untuk cari destinasi percutian ataupun tempat pelancongan yang berpatutan, vendor, pemborong dan peniaga tempatan harus mengambil peluang menggunakan aplikasi digital dan laman web sedia ada untuk mempromosikan produk pelancongan mereka ke pasaran global.
Justeru itu, program radio “Randau Digital Sarawak” yang dianjurkan Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak kembali lagi bulan ini dengan topik “Memperkasakan e-pelancongan di Sarawak” memberikan para pendengar di seluruh Sarawak khususnya yang terlibat dalam industri pelancongan ini idea dan pengetahuan baharu mengenai status e-pelancongan di negeri ini.
“Penggunaan teknologi digital memudahkan pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara untuk menyenangkan perancangan percutian, selain memudahkan pencarian maklumat dalam jurang internet, seperti e-dagang bagi pembelian tiket kapal terbang, penginapan dan pakej pelancongan,” kata Nurhadiatul Sukinah Jamali, Pembantu Pengurus Komunikasi Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) dalam temubual Randau Digital Sarawak yang disiarkan 17 Julai 2019.
STB turut mensasarkan sebanyak 5 juta orang pelancong pada tahun ini berbanding 4.3 juta pada tahun 2018.
“Peratusan kenaikan pelancong pada Jan – April 2019 adalah 4.67 peratus dengan jumlah kehadiran pelancong sebanyak 1,472,221 berbanding 65,656 pelancong pada 2018. Jumlah Jan-April adalah 1,406,565 kehadiran pelancong. Untuk mensasarkan target 5 juta pelancong dari 4.4 juta (2018), kita memerlukan 570,000 pelancong ke Sarawak,” kata Anderson Harry William Omar, Penolong Pengurus Acara dalam temubual menerusi rancangan Iban pada 16 Julai 2019.
Tahun Melawat Sarawak atau “Kempen Melawat Sarawak” (VSC) memfokuskan kepada lima tema iaitu kebudayaan, pengembaraan lasak, alam semulajadi, makanan dan perayaan (CANFF). Kelima-lima tema ini memainkan peranan penting dalam industri pelancongan, memandangkan Sarawak mempunyai lebih daripada 27 etnik bangsa yang kaya dengan makanan unik, berbagai perayaan yang kita sambut sepanjang tahun.
Tambahan pula, e-pelancongan menjadi pasaran yang luas di abad kini. Pengusaha-pengusaha pelancongan terutamanya di luar bandar tidak dapat mengaseskan ke pasaran dunia dan e-pelancongan menjadi kekangan mereka untuk mempromosikan perniagaan produk-produk pelancongan mereka seperti inap desa, pemakanan dan aktiviti pelancongan mereka.
Sebagai contoh, pemaju pelancongan di Bario menggunakan platform e-dagang untuk memasarkan produk mereka.
Anderson menyatakan terdapat beberapa pengusaha pelancongan di Sarawak yang giat memperkenalkan e-pelancongan sebagai bahan promosi pakej dan produk pelancongan, selain itu, turut memainkan peranan adalah agensi yang memasarkan produk pelancongan dan pakej Sarawak ke luar negara seperti Eropah.
“STB dalam hal ini ada dua perkara; pertama, membantu mereka dari segi memberi sokongan pemasaran dan kedua, nasihat untuk membantu mereka memasarkan ke luar seperti membawa produk mereka ke mana-mana expo di serata dunia,” tambah Anderson dalam program radio Randau Digital Sarawak tersebut.
Kedua-dua tetamu dari STB yang telah ditemubual menerusi program radio “Randau Digital Sarawak” merupakan episod keempat dalam musim kedua yang disiarkan dalam bahasa Iban dan Melayu menerusi bahasa Iban saluran Rentak Ruai dari jam 3 hingga 4 petang dan CATS Drivetime jam 5 hingga 6 petang masing-masing.
Randau Digital Sarawak ini akan menemui pendengar CATS FM bermula bulan April sehingga September 2019 dan ke udara satu bulan sekali manakala Infokapsul anjuran Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) dengan kerjasama Angkatan Zaman Mansang
(AZAM) Sarawak boleh didengarkan setiap hari di CATS FM. Kepada semua pendengar jangan lupa, juh digitalkan dunia kita.
KUCHING: Lawas has a big potential in tourism with many traditional and attractive emerging products although it is located in a strip of Sarawak territory between the Temburong district of Brunei and Sabah.
As an effort to familiarize members with Lawas’ socio-economic development with the view to assist in promoting Lawas, Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) in collaboration with Lawas District Office is organising an AZAM Members’ Study Visit and Rural Community Outreach programme that will be held from 11-14 July 2019 in Lawas.
Among the places that AZAM members will be visiting is the waterfront of Kampung Awat-Awat, the tahai cottage industry and long jetty in Kampung Punang, Meragang Buffalo Station, and the Ceramic Beads Handicraft Centre at Kampung Long Tuma.
The main objectives of this programme are to provide an opportunity for AZAM members to reach out and contribute to rural community development. To achieve this objective, a motivational and knowledge sharing session will be held during the study visit to Kampung Awat-Awat, and the session will be conducted by AZAM members, YBhg. Dato Dr. Munirah Mohd Hassan, and Edward Minggat anak Gena. Fifty participants comprising selected JKKK members and villagers of Kampung Awat-Awat are expected to attend this session.
To familiarize the AZAM delegation with Lawas’ socio-economic development, Lawas District Officer Ladin Atok will be giving an overview of the development in Lawas.
Other programme highlights are knowledge sharing sessions from tourism operator and entrepreneur Joseph Yusuf Tai, on the update of e-tourism projects in Lawas, AZAM members Associate Professor Dr. Margaret Chan Kit Yok on using e-books for tourism and Edward Minggat anak Gena, on engaging the rural community in tourism. Fifty participants comprising the relevant business communities in Lawas are expected to attend these sessions.
As part of the outreach programme, the AZAM delegation will hold a social gathering in Lawas to enhance rapport and networking with local partners.
For more information, contact AZAM Sarawak Communication Officer Nissa Normin at 082-411799 or e-mail: nissa@azam.org.my.
KAPIT, July 4: Increasing innovations and development in digital platforms such as mobile commerce and online businesses has created vast opportunities in the marketplace, empowering entrepreneurs and startups with the opportunity to plan out their own marketing strategies, and connect them with a more diverse customer base from all over the world, leveling the playing field for SMEs and retailers alike.
In line with the Sarawak government’s intensive efforts to transform Sarawak’s conventional economy to a digital economy, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) in collaboration with Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak held the third edition of its Community Digital Initiative workshop series from 3-4- July 2019 in Kapit as part of a statewide campaign to spread digital inclusivity.
Conducted by representatives from government and private sectors such as SMA, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Center of Technical Excellence (Centexs) and local industry players, the workshop aimed to empower Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) and entrepreneurs with relevant e-commerce marketing skills and netowrking that can enable them to mobilise their respective communities to initiate activities that promote and nurture the digital economy.
About 40 participants comprising selected JKKK members and local entrepreneurs from Kapit Division attended this one-and-a-half day workshop which aimed to provide a platform for local community leaders and JKKK to play their role as state development frontliners in motivating and mobilising their communities to be digital-ready.
To achieve this objective, a representative from SMA gave an overview of Sarawak’s digital economyh strategy to better facilitate participants’ understanding and implementation of digital initiatives with their communities.
Other workshop highlights were knowledge sharing sessions from successful industry players like apparel and accessories entrepreneur Neng Kho Razali, on how to leverage on digital platforms to market original Bornean designs to the international market, and agro-based entrepreneur Heineken Laluan on packaging, shipping, and selling local produce to global markets.
The first and second edition of the workshop was held in Lawas last year and in Bintulu in March 2019.
For more information, contact AZAM Sarawak’s Community Development Unit officer Yaana Singkie at 082-411799 or email: yaana@azam.org.my.
KUCHING: Program radio Randau Digital Sarawak kembali lagi bulan ini dengan topik “Juh, kenali apa itu Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE)” memberikan para pendengar di seluruh Sarawak gambaran tentang inisiatif memelihara dan memulihara warisan.
OKSHE merupakan inisiatif di bawah Jabatan Ketua Menteri bertanggungjawab di atas inisiatif untuk memelihara dan memulihara warisan dan budaya melalui teknologi pintar. Antara objektif OKSHE adalah untuk membantu meningkatkan sosio ekonomi masyarakat setempat melalui perubahan dari segi cara hidup.
Antara contoh inisiatif yang dilaksanakan adalah program Agenda OKSHE yang di adakan pada 25 – 31 Mac 2019 yang memperkenalkan penggunaan e-wallet seperti Sarawak Pay kepada pengusaha dan warung kecil di kampung melalui peraduan dan pertandingan yang menggunakan aplikasi telefon pintar.
Selain itu teknologi AR/VR telah digunakan untuk membangunkan inisiatif memelihara, memulihara dan menyampaikan penceritaan sejarah dan tradisional kepada generasi akan datang.
“OKSHE merupakan projek perintis untuk menjadikan Old Kuching sebagai bandar warisan pintar di Kuching dalam tempoh masa lima tahun akan datang,” kata Profesor Ir. Dr. Al Khalid bin Haji Othman, Timbalan Ketua Saintis dan merangkap Ketua Penasihat Ekonomi Digital Sarawak dalam temubual Randau Digital Sarawak yang disiarkan 22 Mei 2019.
Mereka berkongsi mengenai keunikan program OKSHE dalam menggalakkan integrasi antara kerajaan dengan komuniti untuk mempromosikan budaya dan warisan di Kuching ke arah digital serta pintar, selari dengan inisiatif agenda ekonomi digital Sarawak untuk mewujudkan Bandar Pintar (Smart City).
Menurut Prof Khalid, OKSHE bermula di Kuching sebagai projek perintis, dan banyak lagi akan dibangunkan pada masa akan datang berdasarkan sejarah Old Kuching sebagai lokasi utama pentadbiran kerajaan, serta pusat aktiviti perniagaan masyarakat terawal di sepanjang sungai Sarawak yang menjadi asas kepada warisan bangsa di kawasan ini.
Melalui warisan sejarah yang ketara dan tidak ketara (tangible and intangible), dan program budaya dan warisan, bandaraya pintar Old Kuching mampu menjadi pintu masuk ke bandar-bandar lain di Sarawak sekaligus memampankan lagi pembangunan ekonomi negeri.
Menurut Prof Khalid, projek berdasarkan konsep OKSHE boleh di cadangkan atau di tengahkan ke kawasan warisan yang lain seperti di Baram, Telang Usan dan lain-lain. Perkara ini telah pun di suarakan oleh penduduk di Telang Usan untuk menggunakan rangka kerja OKSHE sebagai panduan untuk membangunkan projek yang serupa.
“Hal ini membuktikan bahawa orang Sarawak sudah bersedia untuk menerima perubahan dan dalam masa yang sama masih mengekalkan aspek warisan bangsa,” tambah beliau.
Prof Khalid juga menyeru agar orang ramai dapat memainkan peranan yang lebih aktif dalam memastikan OKSHE terus menjadi satu pembangunan yang baik dari segi menjulang warisan Sarawak melalui pengimplementasian nilai digital.
Selain itu, OKSHE juga mendidik masyarakat tempatan untuk lebih bersedia menerima gelombang digital yang pesat bukan sahaja untuk pembangunan diri malah bagi keselamatan mereka juga.
Antara misi OKSHE adalah inisiatif untuk membangunkan status sosioekonomi masyarakat setempat melalui mempromosikan kursus latihan Teknikal dan Vokasional (TVET) dan pembelajaran seumur hidup melalui pelbagai institusi pendidikan seperti Unimas, Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), dan sebagainya.
Setakat ini, antara projek yang telah dilaksanakan untuk menaik taraf infrastruktur warisan yang sedia bagi meningkatkan keterlihatan (visibility) ialah facelift 12 perahu tambang fasa pertama, pemasangan empat CCTV tiang tinggi di kawasan waterfront kampung untuk tujuan keselamatan, menaik taraf produk-produk makanan tradisional di kampung dari segi nutrisi, menaik taraf packaging dan membantu dipasarkan secara komersial.
Tambahan pula, pencahayaan hiasan kampung fasa pertama telah dipasang di sekitar Kampung Masjid hingga Kampung Bintangor, lima program mingguan di bawah Majlis Seni Sarawak telah diadakan pada bulan Disember tahun lepas, 18 program komuniti pintar telah dilaksanakan oleh pihak CENTEXS yang merangkumi lapan jenis program antaranya urutan refleksologi, pembuatan kraf bahan kitar semula, asas sulaiman manik dan simo, asas solekan, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), asas sulaman keringkam, pembangunan produk, label dan pembungkusan, pensijilan homestay dan hospitaliti.
Tambah beliau, masyarakat di negeri ini juga tidak seharusnya mengambil peluang untuk melakukan kesalahan vandalisme dengan merosak atau mengambil peralatan yang telah disusun atur bagi program ini. Hal ini kerana bukan sahaja akan menyusahkan mereka tetapi semua pihak yang terlibat.
Program radio “Randau Digital Sarawak” merupakan episod kedua dalam musim kedua, siri yang disiarkan dalam bahasa Iban dan Melayu menerusi bahasa iban saluran Rentak Ruai dari jam 3 hingga 4 petang dan Cats Drivetime jam 5 hingga 6 petang masing-masing.
Randau Digital Sarawak ini akan menemui pendengar CATS FM bermula bulan April sehingga September 2019 dan ke udara satu bulan sekali manakala Info Kapsul anjuran Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) dengan kerjasama Angkatan Zaman Mansang ( AZAM) Sarawak boleh didengarkan setiap hari di CATS FM.
Kepada semua pendengar jangan lupa, juh digitalkan dunia kita.
Program ini dikendalikan oleh pihak AZAM iaitu Nurfadzalina Ali, Pegawai Pembangunan Komunikasi (Iban) dan Hassnal Hakim Junaidi ( Melayu ) bersama tetamu yang merupakan wakil-wakil dari SMA iaitu Contesa Muat, Akauntan Unit Kewangan SMA, Felicity Anai, Pegawai Perundangan SMA, Dulcy Pani, Pegawai Tadbir SMA bagi bahasa Iban dan Prof Khadir dan Abang Nashiq untuk bahasa Melayu.
KUCHING: Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak continued its efforts to develop and engage local youths for development in the state by organising a programme titled “AZAM Youth Upskilling Programme 2019”.
Themed “Inspire, Impact, Influence”, 15 AZAM Young Souls members attended the programme, aimed to build their capacity as productive socio-economic resources for Sarawak.
The programme was also partly to nurture the participants to be effective volunteers especially in their roles and contributions in AZAM’s activities promoting development communication in Sarawak.
Read more: https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/azam-continues-to-help-upskill-local-youths/
MIRI: With rapid globalization, Sarawak needs to become a main driver and active participant in the digital economy, especially in its efforts to build up a workforce in preparation for Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0).
Besides having a solid foundation in Science, Mathematics and Technology as well as necessary soft skills for IR4.0, students will have to build up their fluency in English to be able to participate in developments in these fields.
To boost English language learning and fluency in rural schools, Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak held a one-day “AZAM Rural School Motivation and Community Outreach Programme” on 11 April 2019 in Niah, Miri. The event which was held in collaboration with Subis District Office and supported by Faradale Holdings, also included the participation of AZAM members, AZAM Toastmasters Club and youth volunteer group AZAM Young Souls.
“Today’s program for students as well as for parents today are in line with Sarawak Government’s objectives to enhance English language standards in Sarawak and, to promote STEM and TVET as part of our need to achieve a Digital Economy that is a new reality to us,” said Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research (MESTR) permanent secretary Datu William Patrick Nyigor who officiated the outreach programme’s opening ceremony.
“It is estimated that 90 per cent of jobs in IR4.0 will focus in engineering and science. Thus, the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Research will be focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and English.
“An important segment of IR 4.0 is expected to be located in disciplinary areas such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, business administration and computer science,” added William Patrick, who is also AZAM deputy chairman.
“In the digital economy era, students must acquire self-study skills to remain relevant in this time of rapid change,” he said, adding that a survey by W3Techs in March 2018 that cited about 54 per cent (5.4 million) of the 10 million web sites were written in English, while websites in Indonesian Malay spanned 0.3 per cent (30,000 pages), emphasising the need to add English language fluency to students’ skill sets.
One hundred and seventy students from Primaries Four to Six, and 45 participants from Parent- Teacher Associations (PTA) from SK Batu Niah, SK Rancangan Sepupok and SK Tanjung Berlipat took part in this programme aimed to boost rural students’ confidence in learning and using the English language, and thus contribute to rural community development.
Among the highlighted sessions were by AZAM Toastmasters Club titled “Boost Your English for Success”; interactive sessions with the students to boost their confidence to learn and use the English language, and a panel session with PTA groups titled “PTA contributions to 21st Century Education”.
The panel session moderated by AZAM board member Sharkawi Yassin featured key speakers from Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Bumiputera Sarawak (TEGAS) Chief Operating Officer Awangku Merali Pengiran Mohamed, SK Batu Niah PTA chairman Sebastian Janting Takin, and SK Batu Niah headmaster Abdul Rashid Yaakub.
The programme also saw AZAM donating about 500 new and pre-loved English language books to be divided among schools involved in this programme as part of the organisation’s initiatives to educate young students to read, learn and master the English language. The first book donation drive commenced in early February to date and was the result of generous donations from AZAM members, AZAM Toastmasters Club, AZAM Young Souls, and staff of AZAM.
For more information, contact AZAM Sarawak Community Development Officer Mohd Wasli at 082-411799 or email wasli@azam.org.my.
MIRI: Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak continues its effort to boost rural students’ confidence in learning and using the English language.
In its latest endeavour, Azam held a one-day ‘Azam Rural School Motivation and Community Outreach Programme’ in Niah here yesterday.
The event, which was held in collaboration with Subis District Office and supported by Faradale Holdings, also saw the participation of Azam members, Azam Toastmasters Club and youth volunteer group Azam Young Souls.
