Kudos to Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and its efforts to groom some 1,000 local Grab drivers to become tourism ambassadors which is also the first of its kind being implemented in our country.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STB, Puan Sharzede Salleh Askor the programme is exclusively for e-hailing drivers with the aim to equip them with extra knowledge about tourism and also Sarawak’s unique attractions to present and future visitors.
This initiative is also a joint effort by STB and Grab Academy, as part of continuous efforts by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Sarawak and also the board to boost the state’s tourism industry. Grab Malaysia would collaborate by reaching out to between 4,000 and 5,000 e-hailing drivers from its database, who are based in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri; and engaging them in e-learning training.
The ambassador concept is also hoped to enrich their knowledge about Sarawak as a tourism destination and, in turn, grooming them to become Sarawak ambassadors to their clients. STB would also collaborate with Grab Malaysia in providing the tourism product modules via the Grab Academy platform. The programme is available in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin in which the modules would cover information about Sarawak, its culture and heritage as well as tourist destinations. The provision of this online learning, the Grab drivers involved will have access to Grab Malaysia’s e-learning platform, the ‘Axonify’, under Grab Academy. The modules for e-learning will be facilitated by Akademi Hospitaliti dan Pelancongan Saujana Sdn Bhd (SATT College) to cover the southern, central and the northern regions of Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak, Mr Hii Chang HKee had also lauded the programme for being ‘extremely timely and apt’ due to its unique approach’. The ministry also welcomes such programme because e-hailing drivers are usually the the first contacts for tourists who arrive here and also during their time exploring various tourist attractions and destinations.
I therefore praise the Ministry and STB for their continuous efforts to revive our local tourism industry which can leverage on the role of e-hailing drivers in highlighting major routes, attractions and destinations. Hopefully, all our local Grab drivers will seize this opportunity to equip themselves with the knowledge that would help promote and attract visitors to explore the various tourism attraction in Sarawak.
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