By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, June 22: The Sarawak state government has allocated RM2.25 million as direct incentives to uplift the tourism industry which has been badly hit by Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said today that such direct incentives were made available to boost the tourism industry to recover.
“To help the tourism sector to gradually pick up post Covid-19, my ministry is offering the various incentives for tourism players amounting to RM2.25 million,” he told a news conference after chairing the “Post Covid-19 Tourism Sectors Dialogue Session – Sarawak Reopens for Tourism” held at Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching (BCCK) today.
He revealed that RM1 million will be allocated for the Visitors Incentive Package (VIP) whereby local Sarawak tour companies licenced by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia are eligible to apply.
“The tour package must include tax at a hotel or homestay. We have set aside RM1 million for this incentive,” he explained.
Abdul Karim added that an additional RM1 million will be allocated for home grown events and another RM250,000 for Sarawak tourism online ecosystem.
“To increase Sarawak’s digital footprint, share of voice and to prepare the industry’s players’ digital capacity during this low season post-Covid-19, my ministry through the Sarawak Tourism Board will allocate an initial RM250,000 to introduce an incentive for a maximum of RM5,000 per inbound tour operator,” said Abdul Karim.
He disclosed that the state government has responded to the current situation by quickly forming the Sarawak Economic Action Council (SEAC) to formulate the direction of the state economic development until 2030.
“Tourism is one of the 14 sectors for the SEAC to focus on,” added Abdul Karim.—DayakDaily.
