logo
Sarawak aims for 5 million visitors, RM12.7bil in tourism revenue

Sarawak aims for 5 million visitors, RM12.7bil in tourism revenue

KUCHING: Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today expressed his confidence that Sarawak will achieve a target of five million visitor arrivals and to generate RM12.73 billion estimated tourism receipts for this year.
He said the target can be achieved based on the visitor arrivals of 1.6 million recorded between January and April this year.
"From January to April 2025 period, Sarawak continues to receive largenumber of visitors from Brunei (514,015) andIndonesia (236,054)," he said in his winding up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly here.
China contributes 24,865 arrivals to Sarawak, Singapore 18,637 and the Philippines 14,482, he said.
He said the visitor arrivals for the first four months of this year contributed to RM4.07 billion tourism receipts.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tourism, Transport ministries in talks over which should regulate tour vehicles
Tourism, Transport ministries in talks over which should regulate tour vehicles

New Straits Times

time7 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Tourism, Transport ministries in talks over which should regulate tour vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is discussing with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry the possibility of allowing the latter to regulate tour vehicles, including buses. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said discussions were still at a preliminary stage and involved multiple ministries due to the complexities surrounding vehicle regulation. "That matter is still at the discussion stage between ministries, as there are still many aspects that need to be looked into. "Regulating tour buses, as you can imagine, involves a lot of procedures such as testing and so on, which require thorough discussion," he said briefly when met after attending Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's Jelajah Ria 2.0 Programme. Yesterday, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry had called for control over tourism-related vehicles such as buses to be returned to it, citing a loss of confidence in Malaysian road safety among various countries. It had said in a statement that parties involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea had expressed their concerns to the ministry. It had said there was a lack of confidence in Malaysia's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms among these countries following the bus crash in Gerik which saw 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students killed and many others injured. "We will continue to monitor those with prior offences who remain defiant. We don't sweep such matters under the carpet," said Hasbi.

Sarawak Tourism Board expands NE Asia outreach with first trade mission to Busan
Sarawak Tourism Board expands NE Asia outreach with first trade mission to Busan

Borneo Post

time15 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Sarawak Tourism Board expands NE Asia outreach with first trade mission to Busan

Deputy Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting (fifth right) and Sharzede (fourth right), together with the Sarawak delegation, at the Sarawak booth during the Seoul International Travel Fair in Seoul, South Korea recently. KUCHING (June 12): The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) continues to accelerate its presence in the Northeast Asia market with its recent participation in the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) 2025 and its first-ever trade outreach in Busan, South Korea. According to a press release, this marks a significant milestone in STB's wider regional strategy to strengthen its footprint across strategic market clusters, particularly within Northeast Asia. Held at COEX Convention Center in Seoul, SITF 2025 marked Sarawak's third consecutive participation at South Korea's largest tourism exhibition, which also celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Sarawak's colourful showcase featured cultural performances and interactive experiences that brought the state's Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals (CANFF) pillars to life. STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor highlighted that the board's focus goes beyond a single event, saying: 'We are building market clusters that make long-term sense for Sarawak. 'By deepening our engagement in Korea while expanding collaborative networks across Northeast Asia, we're shaping Sarawak's visibility in line with global travel trends. Our goal is for Sarawak to resonate with travellers not just in Seoul, but also in Osaka and beyond,' she added. Korean arrivals to Sarawak reached 12,972 in 2024, reflecting a 20 per cent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This steady growth highlights the effectiveness of STB's sustained marketing efforts and digital outreach in the Korean market. The momentum was further strengthened by Post-Event Product Updates held in Seoul and in Busan, for the first time, where it marked a historic first outreach in South Korea's second-largest city, reinforcing STB's commitment to expanding beyond capital-centric tourism promotion. The Product Updates attracted top-tier outbound travel agents, providing firsthand insights into Sarawak's latest offerings through presentations, destination briefings, and curated networking sessions. Sarawak's delegation featured tourism players, including Innosar Holiday, Grand Margherita Hotel & Riverside Majestic Hotels, and the Sarawak Golf Tourism Association — all of which presented fresh travel packages tailored for Korean travellers. To amplify awareness, STB launched Korean-language Facebook and Instagram pages as well as collaborated with local influencers to extend digital reach. The Sarawak Pavilion at SITF buzzed with traditional dance, interactive displays, and live booth content, drawing thousands of Korean visitors over the four-day fair. Beyond South Korea, STB is also ramping up preparations for its participation in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, aligning with Malaysia's national branding and positioning of Sarawak gastronomy. This initiative marks a key expansion of STB's focus into Northeast Asia, with Japan identified as a high-value market for long-haul travellers seeking authentic experiences in Southeast Asia. The recent initiatives are part of STB's larger Asean-Northeast Asia cluster strategy, connecting multiple feeder markets to Sarawak under one cohesive regional framework. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 on the horizon, STB's integrated approach aims to solidify Sarawak's reputation as the Gateway to Borneo and a must-visit destination in Asia.

UPSI bus crash has dented confidence in tourism sector, says ministry
UPSI bus crash has dented confidence in tourism sector, says ministry

Free Malaysia Today

timea day ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

UPSI bus crash has dented confidence in tourism sector, says ministry

The accident on Monday involved a chartered bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students, who had celebrated their Aidiladha holiday in Jertih, Terengganu, back to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Monday's bus crash which saw 15 university students lose their lives has sparked international concern and dented confidence in the country's tourism sector, the tourism, arts and culture ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the accident raised serious questions about the country's image as a safe tourist destination, especially with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) less than a year away. 'Stakeholders involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and Korea have expressed doubts to the ministry about Malaysia's ability to ensure transport safety,' it said. 'Due to current uncertainty over transport safety, many institutions and international partners are reviewing their plans. 'If we cannot guarantee transport safety, it won't just impact educational exchanges -Malaysia's standing as a regional tourism hub will also be at stake.' Return regulatory powers to us, says ministry Stating that the crash was not an isolated incident, the ministry said a major cause of repeated incidents was the fragmented regulatory framework for tourist transportation, which hindered meaningful reform. It noted that while it once held nationwide oversight powers over tourist transportation under the Tourism Vehicle Licensing Act 1999 (Act 594), these powers were transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), with the ministry only retaining jurisdiction in Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak. It said that since this shift, there had been no comprehensive framework that incorporated tourism-specific needs, safety requirements for travellers, or international standards, creating a 'regulatory void'. 'The ministry, therefore, strongly urges that all previously held regulatory powers be fully returned to the ministry. Tourist transport is more than just mobility – it forms the first impression of Malaysia and reflects our tourism image. 'Building a safety framework that meets the expectations of international travellers and industry stakeholders is our duty. Without this, recurring safety issues will jeopardise national efforts,' it said. The accident involved a chartered bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students, who had celebrated their Aidiladha holiday in Jertih, Terengganu, back to their campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak. The bus overturned at Km53 of the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, Gerik, killing 15 students. The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant and three passengers of a car involved in the collision. At a press conference today, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said his ministry had revoked the permit of the bus operator involved in the crash. He said a preliminary investigation found that the operator had breached several key conditions, including illegally leasing its permit to a third party, and failing to activate the vehicle's GPS tracking system.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store