KUCHING: Nature lovers, both domestically and internationally, who desire to experience the unique geological sites and learn about landscape formations in the Sarawak Delta Geopark, can now do so with Tourism Malaysia's Sarawak Delta Geopark & Gawai 2024 tourism packages, which were launched yesterday.
The geopark boasts a wide variety of earth formations and is home to Bornean endemic species such as the orangutan, proboscis monkey, and fairy rock gecko.
Covering an area of 3,112 sq km, it is the country's sixth national geopark. The Tourism Malaysia packages offer visits to some of the 28 rock geosites, 12 diverse biological geosites, and 14 cultural geosites scattered across the Kuching, Bau, and Padawan districts.
Tourism Malaysia said that the Sarawak Delta Geopark & Gawai 2024 tourism packages aim to promote the unique geopark tourism products and the Gawai festival celebration in Sarawak to local and international tourists.
A total of 37 packages have been developed in collaboration with 13 tourism operators from Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
Among the packages offered include:
1. Geological, Heritage & Exploration @ Sarawak Delta Geopark,
2. The Hidden Prehistory & Geological Sites @ Sarawak Delta Geopark
3. Cloud Glamping @ Sarawak Delta Geopark
4. Nature & Cultural @ Sarawak Delta Geopark
5. Gawai Open House at Matop longhouse
6. Babulang Festival in Limbang
7. The Irau Aco Lun Bawang Festival.
Tourism Malaysia said that the development of the new products was the outcome of a workshop and tourism product visits held for four days and three nights from Oct 16 to 19 last year.
The workshop, conducted in collaboration with the state government's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, received support from the Sarawak Forestry Department, the Sarawak Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, and Tourism Malaysia Sarawak.
During the workshop, participants visited and evaluated several "attractive geopark sites", including Tasik Biru, Fairy Cave, and Paku Rockmaze Garden in Bau, as well as Rumah Panjang Annah Rais, Homestay Bung Jagoi, and Kampung Sapit (also known as the "Village Above The Cloud") in Padawan. Tasik Biru was an abandoned gold mine that had been converted into a man-made lake, while the Paku Rockmaze Garden is a naturally formed stone forest landform.
The Sarawak Delta Geopark encompasses several national parks that showcase the region's unique geological, biological, and cultural heritage.
The parks include:
1. Bako National Park
2. Santubong National Park
3. Selabat Mudflats Nature Reserve
4. Sama Jaya Nature Reserve
5. Semenggoh Nature Reserve
6. Bungo Range National Park
7. Dered Krian National Park
8. Wind Cave and Fairy Cave Nature Reserve
9. Kuching Wetland National Park
10. Pulau Tukong Ara-Banun Wildlife Sanctuary
11. Talang Satang National Park
Each park offers its own distinct attractions, from diverse ecosystems and wildlife, including endemic species like the proboscis monkey and the Bornean orangutan, to remarkable geological formations and archaeological sites.
These parks not only serve as conservation areas for Sarawak's rich biodiversity and geological wonders but also provide visitors with the opportunity to explore and appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of the region.
Tourism Malaysia director of Tourism Package Development Division, Mohd Roslan Abdullah, said that the development of these packages is part of the effort to diversify tourism destination choices in line with preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
"The development of these packages can also stimulate efforts towards heritage, historical, and cultural preservation, as well as diversify economic activities and involve local communities to generate income," he added.