THE Sarawak government will allocate RM250 million under the State 2021 Budget to the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture for various tourism programmes.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the allocation would cover marketing and promotion, bidding for business events, the holding of festivals and events as well as tourism infrastructure development.
“The state government will also continue to provide allocations to develop new tourism attractions and upgrade the existing ones including the Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong Archaeological Park and Wallace Centre and Cascading Waterfall at Fort Margherita.
“This will also include upgrading of Wind Caves and Fairy Caves; upgrading of forts including Fort Emma, Fort Lily, Fort Brooke, Fort Sylvia; Transformation of Brooke Dockyard into Maritime Museum; Performing Arts Centre at the old DUN Building and Sadong Jaya Mangrove Tourism,” he said when tabling the Supply (2021) Bill, 2020 at the DUN sitting yesterday (Nov 9).
Abang Johari said with the formation of the three Development Agencies under Recoda, namely Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA), Highland Development Agency (HDA) and Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA), the state government had approved the implementation of over 250 infrastructure and socio-economic projects including roads and bridges, water and electricity supplies, improvement and repair of dilapidated schools.
“To date, 86 projects worth RM1.7 billion have been awarded while remaining projects worth RM2.8 billion will soon be awarded.
“Hence, to meet the contractual obligations next year, a sum of RM1.687 billion will be required,” he said.
