By William Isau
SIBU, Julai 19: A total of RM21.5 million in tourism event grants this year is still available for tourism players to apply for.
Speaking at a press conference after the 2nd Sarawak Tourism Coordination Committee (STCC) Meeting 2022 here today, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Sebastian Ting said lack of awareness is among the reasons why there was still so much funds to be applied for.
The grant is for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government departments, and private sector bodies to organise events to promote the State’s tourism industry.
“Industry players have only five months left for this year to apply for the fund. Please apply as soon as possible,” he said.
Ting said there is another fund from the ministry called Heritage, Arts, Culture and Facilitation fund where RM9.2 million is also still available.
“So far only approved applications is (sic) RM738,000, meaning we have RM9.20 million available which is also up to the end of this year. So long as it has anything to do with culture and heritage, people can apply for it,” he added.
Applications can be made via https://mtcp.sarawak.gov.my.
On tourist arrivals for the first six months of this year, he said it showed an increase of 785.67 per cent as compared to the same period last year.
“From January to June this year and following the opening of the State’s border on April 1, the number of tourist arrivals was 573,619 as compared to 64,737 for the same period last year,” he said.
Tourism receipts totalled RM1.3 billion which is a growth of 766.67 per cent compared to the same period last year which amounted to just RM321.22 million.
“Our target for this year is 1.2 million tourists and for tourism receipts, we are looking at RM3.2 billion. We are very confident of reaching 1.2 million visitors coming to Sarawak as Brunei and Indonesia are opening up. Traditionally these two countries comprise the most visitors to Sarawak,” he added.
Present at the press conference were Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts permanent secretary, Hii Chang Kee, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman Dennis Ngau, STB CEO Sharzede Salleh Askor and Deputy Sibu Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting. — DayakDaily
