Delegates, tourists and the local folk will soon have an alternative mode of transport from the city centre to the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) at Sejingkat in the state capital, or for river cruising.    

They can sail in the comfort of a sleek double-storey catamaran on the Sarawak River instead of using cars.   

State Tourism Minister Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg today visited the Tuong Aik Shipyard, here, where the over RM1.5 million boat is being built and almost ready.   

He said the boat, which could accommodate over 70 seated passengers, could go right up to the end of the Sarawak River but for the moment, it would sail until Medan Niaga Satok.    

"This is one of the projects through which we want to encourage the people to use the river as a means of commuting from one place to another to ease traffic congestion on roads.    

"Of course, we also want to promote river cruising on the Sarawak River," he told reporters at the shipyard.   

"Our BCCK is very special in the sense that we can reach it by road or river. There is no facility like this in Singapore, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur."    

Abang Johari said the catamaran with twin 175hp engines, would berth at a jetty near the centre, where a RM5.6 million air-conditioned bridge was being built to connect the jetty to the centre's lobby.    

"So, this will be something unique for the conference delegates, visitors, tourists and others coming to the state. It is also a novel way to promote our MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) sector," he said.    

He added that the Sarawak Tourism Board boat would leave for Kuching on Sept 4 where it would be launched by Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud during the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Sarawak joining the federaton of Malaysia.    

Meanwhile, Abang Johari said the BCCK had acquired a lot of bookings for international conferences.   

"We will be hosting the Asean Tourism Forum 2014 from Jan 16 to 24.   

 "Then from March 9 to 11, there will be the Route Asia 2014, an annual key event for airports, tourism authorities, policy-makers, keynote speakers and exhibitors to meet and do business, and plan for the future," he said.

- Bernama