BAU: The ‘Revisiting Paku Rock Maze Garden’ event is set to boost Bau’s tourism profile by highlighting its diverse attractions beyond the iconic rock maze.
Serembu assemblyman, Datuk Miro Simuh said the upcoming event, to be held from April 30 to May 3, is significant not only for promoting the Paku Rock Maze Garden, but also for drawing attention to the wide range of tourism products available in Bau and nearby Kuching.
He said the rock maze alone should not be seen as the sole reason for visiting Bau, as the area offers many other attractions within close proximity.
“It’s not just the rock maze to visit. Around the Paku Rock Maze Garden, we have many other tourism products for visitors to explore,” he said during a press conference and Bau District Office here today (Apr 23).
Among the nearby attractions, he highlighted the Paku hot spring located just two to three minutes from the rock maze garden, Tasik Biru recreational site, Wind Cave, Fairy Cave and Merembeh Caving Park.
For those seeking local culture and food, Miro said visitors can also enjoy local dishes and the vibrant atmosphere at the Siniawan Night Market, which operates from Friday to Sunday.
“This event will also bring positive impact to the surrounding tourism products in Bau,” he said.
Miro said Bau is fortunate to be endowed with natural beauty and a variety of attractions that can appeal to different types of visitors.
“We in Bau are quite fortunate because we are surrounded by a lot of natural beauty for tourists to see and explore. We hope tourists will come and discover all these products,” he said.
He disclosed that the Paku Rock Maze Garden currently receives between 12,000 and 20,000 visitors annually.
He also announced that a minimal entrance fee had been introduced starting next month to help fund maintenance and further development of the site.
“Previously, entry was free and visitors could give a token donation. But because a lot of money has been spent to develop the area and we need funding for upkeep, the committee has decided to impose a minimal entry fee,” he said.
Under the new rates, local adults will be charged RM2, while local children below 12 years old will enjoy free entry. Foreign visitors will be charged RM3.
Miro said the main goal is to showcase the beauty of Bau’s natural landscape and the variety of tourism experiences available so that visitors can create meaningful memories.
“The most important thing is we want to showcase how beautiful the natural landscape is and how varied our tourism products are,” he said.
He added that Bau now offers enough attractions for tourists to spend more than a day in the district.
“One day may not be enough to explore all the products. Visitors may need at least two or three days in Bau to fully enjoy the scenery and natural beauty,” he said.
As an example, he noted that exploring Fairy Cave properly could take at least half a day.
Miro said Bau has the right ingredients to position itself as a compelling destination, with good accessibility and a strong blend of culture, nature, adventure and gastronomy.
“With the blend of culture, nature, adventure and gastronomy, I think Bau can become an attractive destination in the near future,” he said.
Also present was Bau District Officer Eddy Ak Nayoi, Bau District Council Deputy Secretary IIyana Mohamad, and joint organising chairman Cr Pui Chung Wei.
