Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin said associations, clubs and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) here should strive to run more events and activities meant to promote Special Interest Tourism (SIT), befitting Miri’s status as a ‘Resort City’.

He described SIT as the delivery of customized tourism activities catering to the specific interests of individuals and groups.

“In this case (SIT), tourism is undertaken to satisfy a particular interest or need. SIT consists of four main experiences – rewards, enrichment, adventuresome experiences, and learning experiences,” he said in his opening address for Miri International Motoday 2019 at Permymall last Saturday night.

Lee regarded SIT as one of the fastest-growing segments within the tourism industry.

He mentioned the need for new tourism products, services, and experiences that cater to these markets.

“Trekking, biking, cycling, and hiking are examples of land-based SIT,” he said.

Lee added that tourism event organizers should not only focus on the environment of a place, but also on activities or programs that could attract people to flock to Miri.

Events such as bikers gathering or ‘motoday’ could be regarded as a crowd-puller promoting SIT, he said and expressed his hope of seeing more similar events take place in the future.