River cruise sector still struggling

MILFORD SOUND (New Zealand): River cruises are big money-spinners overseas but not so in Malaysia due to the reluctance of local banks to give financial help to those starting such activities. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen on Sunday saw how the river cruises along the majestic fjords in Milford Sound, in New Zealand’s South Island, attracted up to 500,000 foreign tourists yearly.

All aboard: Ng waiting for a boat ride at Milford Sound in New Zealand yesterday.

She was disappointed that despite Malaysia having wonderful marine parks, geo-parks, riverine towns, settlements and islands, the river-cruise sector in almost every state was struggling to move forward. “This river-cruise sector is one area where we need to catch up with the rest of the world,” said Ng, who is on a 10-day promotional visit to Australia and New Zealand.

In the four days of her visit to New Zealand, Ng had a close-up look at the country’s botanical gardens, Maori handicraft, the Auckland Museum, aerial tourism as well as the food and shopping sectors. She visited Milford Sound to see how the river-cruise players made a success of their trade. “This place, despite being five hours by road from the nearest city (Queenstown), some 500,000 tourists take the trouble to come and see the place every year. “In Malaysia, we also have some scenic and beautiful coastal and river-based attractions, such as the Langkawi geopark, the islands off the east and west coasts, Kuching City and the interior settlements of Sarawak and Sabah.

“However, banks in Malaysia are reluctant to give loans to those who want to go big in the river cruises because they see the sector as one that gives slow financial returns. “If we don’t develop our cruise boats and ships, we can’t draw tourists and progress fast in the cruise sectors,’’ she told The Star. “This river-cruise sector in Malaysia has not achieved its full potential. We (the ministry) will come up with workable plans on what we can do to progress in this sector,’’ she stressed. Milford Sound has huge cliffs rising steeply to more than 300m from sea level. Glaciers and waterfalls towering down into the river gives the fjord an ancient feel.