Sarawak Perahu Tambang Association chairman Rosli Hidin said that any initiative to help the operators should be continuous.
He said they wanted the authorities and agencies to promote the perahu tambang service as a niche tourism product in the state.
“We hope that hotels and travel agencies can market the ride to their customers.
“Only through such co-operation can our business be sustained,” he told StarMetro after launching the Adopt-A-Tambang programme organised by the Tourism and Heritage Ministry at the Kuching Waterfront recently.
Slowing trade: File photo of perahu tambang operators having a field day watching the Sarawak Regatta 2010 from the riverbank.
Rosli said the association’s members welcomed the programme seen as an initiative to improve their service and income.
Giving them one-off cash assistance to refurbish their boats was not enough to assure good business, he said.
“We hope the agencies which have adopted our members will introduce the perahu tambang to their guests.
“We cannot rely on our 40 sen fare to cross the river to survive. We need the support of the relevant agencies in terms or promotion of our services,” he added.
Rosli said the charges for a one-hour perahu tambang ride was RM15 during the day time and RM16 at night.
To keep up with standards, he said the association would monitor the members to make sure their boats were clean and equipped with life jackets.
Friday August 13, 2010
By RINTOS MAIL
rintos@thestar.com.my
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