'Go big on cultural tourism'

02 June 2013| last updated at 01:15AM

By OLIVIA MIWIL | news@nst.com.my 

SO MUCH POTENTIAL: Sabah should offer its rich heritage as part of a tour package, says Nazri

KOTA KINABALU: SABAH'S rich cultural heritage can be offered as a  tourism package, said    Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday.   
He said if the tourism sector offered culture as a part of its package, it had the potential to generate income for the country.
The merging of culture and tourism was like a perfect "marriage", he added.
Both sectors had contributed 5.8 per cent to the nation's gross domestic product and created 100,000 jobs in 2010.
"Therefore, it is crucial for Sabah people to preserve their arts and culture and showcase them to visitors and tourists.
"The people should not let foreign cultures influence them. We should keep our local identity," he said during a visit to the Sabah National Arts and Culture Complex (JKKN) here.
Nazri hoped that JKKN staff would organise more activities to exceed this year's key performance indicator of 165 programmes.
They were told to beef up their efforts as most of the planned activities were delayed because of the Lahad Datu intrusion and the 13th General Election.
Present were director-general of JKKN Datuk Norliza Rofli, JKKN Sabah director Jasmi Rasit and state Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (centre) taking part in a Sumazau dance at the Sabah National Arts and Culture Complex in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. With him is state Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi (second from right). Pic by Malai Rosmah Tuah

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