Latest news with #SMM2H
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Over 800 foreign nationals approved under Sarawak MM2H since last year
Sarawak's tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the education sector attracts foreigners to join the SMM2H programme, as their children can study at several international schools in the state. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Sarawak government has approved over 800 applications for the Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme over the past 17 months. Sarawak's tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed this in the state legislative assembly recently. He said 560 applications were approved last year and another 265 as of mid-May this year, Bernama reported. According to Karim, the economic benefit from these applicants saw funds amounting to RM176.9 million entering the state, in terms of fixed deposits. After having captured the interest of Chinese nationals and Europeans over the period, Karim said the state is now keen on targeting applicants from Japan. He said this was because there has been an increase in the number of tourists coming to Sarawak from Japan. 'It's up to them (the Japanese) to see what Sarawak has to offer, but from what I can observe, especially from applicants from Europe or China, they see Sarawak as a safe place with good medical facilities,' he was quoted as saying at an event in Kuching today. He also cited the education sector as a factor that attracts foreigners to join the SMM2H programme, as their children can study at several international schools in Sarawak.
Barnama
4 days ago
- Barnama
Sarawak Targets More Japanese For SMM2H
KUCHING, June 5 (Bernama) -- Sarawak holds great potential to attract more Japanese nationals to participate in the Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme, following a rise in the number of tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun visiting the state. Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the SMM2H programme is already popular among Chinese nationals and could also be promoted to interested Japanese citizens. 'It's up to them (the Japanese) to see what Sarawak has to offer, but from what I can observe, especially from applicants from Europe or China, they see Sarawak as a safe place with good medical facilities,' he told reporters after attending the Leo Forum organised by the Lions Club here today.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak targets more Japanese for SMM2H
KUCHING: Sarawak holds great potential to attract more Japanese nationals to participate in the Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme, following a rise in the number of tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun visiting the state. Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the SMM2H programme is already popular among Chinese nationals and could also be promoted to interested Japanese citizens. 'It's up to them (the Japanese) to see what Sarawak has to offer, but from what I can observe, especially from applicants from Europe or China, they see Sarawak as a safe place with good medical facilities,' he told reporters after attending the Leo Forum organised by the Lions Club here today. He noted that safety and high-quality medical services are key attractions, particularly for the elderly who are more vulnerable to health issues. He said the education sector is also a factor that attracts foreigners to join the SMM2H programme, as their children can study at several international schools in Sarawak. During the winding-up session for his ministry at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting last month, Abdul Karim said a total of 560 applications were approved last year for participation in the SMM2H programme, with another 265 approved as of mid-May this year. According to him, these approvals have contributed economically to Sarawak in the form of fixed deposits from the participants, amounting to a total of RM176.9 million.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak on track to achieve five million visitors this year
KUCHING: Sarawak's tourism sector is on a robust growth trajectory when over 1.6 million visitors were already recorded within the first four months of this year, putting it on the right track to achieve its 2025 target of five million visitors, said State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He said the visitors' arrival to date had also given him the confidence that Sarawak could register RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts this year. 'Tourism receipts reached RM12.45 billion in 2024, up from RM9.99 billion in 2023. From January to April this year, we have already generated RM4.07 billion,' he said when winding up on behalf of the ministry at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly here today. According to him, Sarawak welcomed 4.83 million visitors last year, a 23 per cent increase compared to the previous year, and this exceeded 2019 pre-pandemic figures by 3.63 per cent. He said the majority of Sarawak's international tourists come from neighbouring ASEAN countries. Brunei Darussalam topped the list with 1.89 million visitors, followed by Indonesia (653,883), Singapore (59,793), and the Philippines (46,853). Meanwhile, Abdul Karim also told the august House that under the 12th Malaysia Plan, Sarawak has allocated RM382.57 million, supplemented by an additional RM136.44 million under Projek Rakyat and RM49.9 million in federal funds via the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to improve tourism infrastructure. He said the completed projects include conservation works on historic forts, ecotourism facilities at Santubong National Park, upgrades to the Melasak Waterfall Tourism Centre, and enhancements to the Sarawak Cultural Village. On the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme, he said it had seen growing interest since 2020 and as of this month, 3,141 applications have been approved since its inception in 2007. 'In 2024, 560 approvals under SMM2H brought in RM111.6 million in fixed deposits, while 265 approvals in early 2025 have added another RM65.3 million,' he said, adding that top participants for the programme hail from China, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States.
