MIRI, Jan 19: Sarawak aims to attract three million arrivals and RM7.25 billion in tourism receipts in year 2023, says Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
“Additionally, for 2023, with Sarawak’s waterfall attractions becoming trending tourism hotspots, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) are working very closely with our stakeholders into developing them to be more accessible and family-friendly,” he pointed out.
Ting was met after witnessing the handing over of the ‘Sayangi Miri’ landmark icon by the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) to Miri City Council on Wednesday evening.
In 2022, tourism revenue increased by 825.93 per cent to RM4.96 billion compared to RM536.17 million for 2021.
“This strongly indicates that Sarawak tourism will be undergoing a healthy recovery stage in 2023,” Ting said.
“We also surpassed our target of 1.8 million visitors for 2022 as we recorded more than two million visitor arrivals into Sarawak which has increased by over 761.84 per cent compared to the same period year 2021,” he disclosed.
Ting added, based on his Ministry Statistics, in year 2022, there were 2,027,446 visitors coming to Sarawak.
Of the number, a total of 789,328 are foreigners from 28 different countries.
On another notes ,Ting lauded NSJA’s initiative for their effort in constructing the ‘Sayangi Miri’ landmark icon as he believed it will be able to help assist Miri’s tourism by painting a beautiful and colourful picture of the city.
“The ‘Sayangi Miri’ landmark icon of NSJA built is located in the center of Miri City. The beautiful scenery here can easily attract the attention of tourists and local folks; the catchy colours and words help to promote Miri and directly or indirectly this will contribute to its economic development,” he added.
Also present were Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang and NSJA’s president Andy Jong Wan Joon. — DayakDaily
