KUCHING: Over 2,000 of Sarawak’s tourism and business events industry frontliners will be fully vaccinated at the Association of Churches Sarawak in Kuching from July 15 until July 18.
“The business events industry is finally one step closer to restarting again. We are 70 percent in delivering our state recovery plan for business events with updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and improved incentivised packages, alongside creative marketing and promotional materials to ensure the success of the events that are being held in Sarawak.
“We are all eager to restart again and cannot wait to launch our brand new recovery efforts soon,” said the Business Events Sarawak (SBE) chief executive officer (CEO) Amelia Roziman.
Meanwhile, Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri pointed out that the prospect of reopening Sarawak for tourism and business events was high.
“This is a timely development as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) is implementing the Covid-19 Free Destination Programme which will enable main tourism and business events cities to reopen once the targeted herd immunity of 80 percent is achieved.
“In addition, business events will be one of our ministry’s main focus during Malaysia’s phase three of the National Recovery Plan,” she added.
However, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak Permanent Secretary Hii Chang Kee commented that reaching this milestone did not imply that one eye would be closed when it came to safety protocols.
“Although fully vaccinated, the industry will continue to adopt and implement all safety and precautionary measures.
“Tourism and business events activities will be organised with strict adherence to the government stipulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The safety of those involved — whether as hosts, suppliers or visitors — remains a top priority in our state,” he added.
Commenting on the National Recovery Plan (NRP), state Tourism, Arts and Culture (MTAC) Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that Sarawak’s four phase recovery roadmap included the reopening of domestic travel activities by phase three.
The state had just entered phase two of the roadmap, he added.
“Currently, Sarawak holds the highest record in the country with 71.4 percent of its adult population having been vaccinated with at least the first dose while 31 percent of the adult population has completed both doses.
“We anticipate entering phase three by the end of August and aim to restart tourism and business events in Sarawak by the fourth quarter this year,” he added.
