By Amanda L
KUCHING, Aug 16: Sarawak wants to turn the State into a “live classroom” where international leaders, executives and university groups pay to study its development, governance and social models under a proposed leadership tourism programme.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiative could position Sarawak as a global hub for leadership development while generating high-value, longer-stay tourism revenue.
He said international travellers could study Sarawak’s development models, including its renewable energy transition, rural community development, digital public services, social harmony and cultural preservation
“International travellers shall pay to study Sarawak’s specific success models under Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 ,” he said in his keynote address at the soft launch of the Institute of Contemporary Leadership (ICL) here tonight.
Abang Johari said the concept would combine values-centred leadership development with immersive travel, allowing participants to step outside familiar environments and use the host destination as a “live laboratory” for cognitive and leadership development.
He said the inbound component would see Sarawak host regional and international cohorts, corporate executives, ASEAN youth networks and global universities seeking to learn from the State’s experience.
“The programme could also benefit the local economy as participants stay longer and spend on hotels, transport, hospitality and creative industries,” he added.
At the same time, the proposed model would have an outbound component, under which high-potential Sarawak youths, young professionals and community changemakers could be sent to major financial hubs, technology centres and historic governance institutions.
Abang Johari said these participants would be tasked with benchmarking foreign public policies, digital ecosystems and structural innovations, making the programme a human capital development exercise rather than simply an exchange or reward trip.
He said the leadership tourism concept represented a new approach to leadership development that could complement Sarawak’s existing tourism strengths.
“Just as Malaysia is now successful in promoting ecotourism and medical tourism, Sarawak with its vast potential for ecotourism provides a golden opportunity for a new approach to leadership development which we brand as Leadership Tourism,” he said.
The Premier directed the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) in collaboration with ICL, to urgently study and implement the initiative to develop Sarawak into a global hub for Leadership Tourism. — DayakDaily
