Travel Guide Bintulu

Long a notorious haunt of Sarawak, Bintulu gradually opened up with the arrival of the white rajah James Brooke in 1861. It remained a fishing village until the early 1970s and the discovery of oil off its coast. Today, with over 180,000 inhabitants, the town has a modern face with little tourist appeal. It is nonetheless Sarawak's leading port, thanks to its privileged position at the mouth of the Batang Kemena estuary. Timber, oil, cement and palm oil are the main sources of revenue. In terms of tourism, Bintulu is above all the gateway to Similajau National Park. The town is compact enough to get around on foot. The main accommodation, restaurants and stores are located close to the river, with Jalan Masjid in the center. At the end of September, the town hosts the International Kite Festival.