KUCHING: Information obtained from the 800 participants of the 27th International Museum Day Seminar 2023 here will help tourism officials in their efforts to turn Sarawak into a major ecotourism destination.
Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the government also plans to empower communities in heritage, culture, and biodiversity conservation while also making the state a hub of business events.
“Following the seminar’s theme and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sarawak aspires to be a major eco-tourism and business event destination, driven by communities empowered in heritage, culture and biodiversity conservation, besides encouraging investment and development in the tourism sector.
“To achieve this objective, one of the many catalytic initiatives was to create unique Sarawak events, festivals, and business events with adequate financial support and a joint committee for widespread promotion.
“The 2023 International Museum Day, which Sarawak is hosting, is an opportunity not to be missed. Numerous activities and events have been planned to promote the theme of ‘Museum, Sustainability and Wellbeing’. This seminar is no exception and will be of importance to all the attendees,” he said in his speech at the seminar at The Waterfront Hotel today.
The seminar’s theme, he added, centred around the United Nations’ SDGs, focusing on Goal 3 (Global Health and Well-being), Goal 13 (Climate Action), and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
He said the objectives of the event is also to highlight sustainable socio-economic strategies, museums’ role in fostering unity for society’s wellbeing, and their significance as centres of learning and heritage preservation.
“The importance of seminars as vital business events emerged, providing professionals from various industries with an invaluable platform to learn from experts, stay informed, and foster connections within their fields.
“Additionally, seminars provide a forum for networking and developing relationships with other professionals. This networking opportunity can lead to new business partnerships, collaborations, and even job opportunities,” he added.
The ceremony was attended by Abdul Karim’s deputies Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew and Datuk Snowdan Donald Lawan, ministry’s Permanent Secretary Datuk Sherrina Hussaini, National Unity Ministry deputy secretary general Mohamad Sobri Mat Daud, Departments of Museums Malaysia director general Datuk Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim, and International Council of Museums (ICOM) vice president Inkyung Chang.
The Sarawak Museum Department was selected once again to host the international seminar following its success in hosting similar seminars in 2003 and 2013. This year, a total of 28 state museums and agencies and 800 participants took part in the one-day seminar.
