MIRI: Sarawak’s tourism sector has continued to develop as one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world apart from Malaysia.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew said this reflected the importance of tourism for Sarawak’s economy.
“Sarawak tourism industry in 2019 recorded an increase of 5.22 per cent to 4.66 million in visitor arrivals compared to the previous year. According to the Sarawak Regional Tourism Satellite Account (RTSA) 2018, the gross value added of the tourism industry has generated a revenue of RM11.57 billion for Sarawak which accounted for 8.72 per cent of share to Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.
Ting was speaking at the launching of a hotel in Jalan Brooke, here today.
According to the RTSA 2018, Sarawak tourism industry employed more than 243,000 people (19.1 per cent of Sarawak’s total employment), representing nearly a quarter of all jobs in Sarawak. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sarawak’s tourism sector itself is now doing well, thanks largely to the support of domestic and foreign travellers. Total visitor arrivals for last year recorded about 3,929,657 visitors into Sarawak which increased by over 93.82 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. The arrivals return about 85 per cent of the pre pandemic levels in 2019,” he added.
He said the tourism receipt jumped by 101.41 per cent to RM9.99 billion compared to RM4.96 billion for 2022.
“The Tourism receipt 2023 accounted for 7.11 per cent of the GDP,” he said.
He further said that for January 2024, total visitor arrivals recorded into Sarawak were 352,983, which increased over 10.63 per cent, compared to the same period of 2023.
“The tourism receipt generated RM907.37 million which jumped by 12.11 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
“We are aiming to achieve a total of 4 million visitor arrivals in 2024,” Ting concluded.
