By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Oct 17: Sarawak is close to reaching its target of 1.2 million visitor arrivals this year, with only 60,000 more to go.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that as of September, the total visitor arrivals into Sarawak is 1,141,184, while in 2021, it was only 92,174 (1,138 per cent growth).
“We have got only about 60,000 more to reach our target of 1.2 million visitor arrivals this year, and I think by October, we should surpass the target,” he said at the BESarawak Tribal Gathering Kuching 2022 held at Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK) today.
He also added that Sarawak had recorded RM2.72 billion in tourism receipts from January to September this year, which is a growth of 1,170 per cent compared to RM213.98 million in the corresponding period in 2021.
Abdul Karim elaborated that airfare is a deciding factor for tourists in choosing Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia, and the Sarawak government is trying to push the price down to a reasonable figure.
Meanwhile, he disclosed the number of Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) applicants also saw a big jump in numbers, particularly from Singaporeans.
He said this is due to the close relationship between Sarawak and Singapore, including the promotion made by Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos), which invited Singaporean media groups to promote the State.
“There is a lot of arrival from Singapore, too, and I am very happy about that,” he said. – DayakDaily.
