FIRST CRUISE SHIP ARRIVAL FOR 2015

KUCHING, Tuesday – The first cruise ship for 2015, SILVERWIND MONACO, sailed into Sarawak and docked at the Bintulu Port on 6^th January 2015 at 8:00 a.m. This is SILVERWIND MONACO’s first arrival for the year and Sarawak is expected to receive a total of 8 confirmed cruise ships for the year 2015 with a few more pending confirmation from the cruise operators.

SILVERWIND MONACO

The cruise ship was on its 11 Days cruise from Singapore to Bali, beginning from Singapore, Bintulu, Muara, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Pare-Pare, Makassar, Komodo and making its final stop in Benoa, Bali. It brought a total of 260 passengers and 220 crew, all Americans.

At the arrival in Sarawak, the passengers were given a traditional welcome, courtesy of Sarawak Tourism Board. Their local ground handler was Exotic Borneo Tours, Kota Kinabalu. While in Sarawak, the passengers will explore Bintulu for various excursion trips such as visiting Similajau National Park, Niah National Park as well as touring Bintulu City.

Total visitor arrivals to the state have increased by 23% with a total arrival of 4.3 million tourist arrivals as of 30 November 2014, compared to the same period in the previous year. Maurice Balang, Sarawak Tourism Board’s Regional Manager for UK & Europe who was on hand to welcome the visitors said, “The cruise industry is on the rise and in recent years there has been a demand in this industry despite the lack of proper cruise terminals in the State. We will continue our efforts in promoting Sarawak as a place where adventure lives”

Issued by:

Corporate Communications Unit

SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD

6^th January 2015