SARAWAK recorded 4.66 million tourist arrivals in 2016, bringing in estimated tourism receipts of RM8.37 billion.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the tourist arrival figure represented 3.19 per cent increase as compared to the 2015 figure.
“For 2017, my ministry is targeting five million tourist arrivals and expecting RM8.98 billion in tourism receipts. From January to April this year, visitor arrival figure was 1.67 million, indicating an increase of 17.26 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2016,” he said at his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday.
Under the State Transformation Plan, Karim said the state government had set up three cabinet committees to undertake action plans in socio-economic development, rural growth and service delivery in the state.
The three committees are Socio-Economic Transformation; Rural Transformation; and Service Delivery Transformation, he added.
Acknowledging the significant and important contribution of tourism to local economy as an impetus to create new growth in the service sector, he said the state government had placed tourism as one of the Key Result Areas (KRAs) under the Socio-Economic Transformation Programme (SETP).
“For the year 2017, the following KRA projects and programmes have been approved for implementation of brand for Sarawak. From the feedback we received from foreigners during our numerous trade and travel roadshows abroad, Sarawak is not well known overseas as compared to other destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Penang, Langkawi, and Melaka. We need to create a brand identity for Sarawak not only as a tourist destination but also as a business, trade and investment destination.
The approach and strategy need to be holistic and to cover as many sectors as possible. Hence the state government has agreed Stevenage a Brand Specialist to look into this matter.
“Upgrading of Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities – this KRA includes infrastructure at Bako National Park, Fairy Cave and Wind Cave, construction of a boat jetty at Santubong for visitors visiting the Kuching Wetland RAMSAR site and for diving and fishing activities.
This KRA also includes the construction of a walkway linking Fort Margheritawith the yet to be completed pedestrian bridge.
“Development of New Tourism products – this KRA includes the conversion of the Old Brooke Dockyard into a Maritime Museum, conversion of the Old DUN building into a performing arts centre, conversion of the former Miri Resident and District Ofice into a cultural and heritage centre and the conversion of the goldmine in Bau into a Gold Mine Museum and Park,” he said.
Karim said the other KRA project was to revitalise the Kuching Waterfront into a more vibrant and attractive place to visit during day and night time, allowing for more tourism and commercial activities.
He also said that the KRA was also to enhance the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) and the Rainforest World Music Festival to include more local participation.
“This KRA is to establish a dedicated Sarawak Tourism APP that caters to all the needs of a visitor. With this APP, all information on tourism will be coordinated and linked to all social media network and finally, will funnel into call for actions; and as well as to provide incentives to airlines to fly direct to Sarawak, either on chartered or scheduled flights,” he said.
Karim explained that there were 13 KRA projects and programmes under his ministry with approved allocation of RM60 million.
“While the ministry’s immediate focus is to implement the above KRA projects and programmes, it will also give equal attention to other areas which have the potential to grow and contribute to our economy, namely, Medical Tourism, Cruise Tourism , Edu Tourism and Sports Tourism,” he said.
