Sarawak govt allocates RM2.25 million for badly hit tourism sector

Abdul Karim (2nd left) chairing the ā€œPost Covid-19 Tourism Sectors Dialogue Session - Sarawak Reopens for Tourismā€ held at Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching (BCCK) today.

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.

ā€œTo 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,ā€ he told a news conference after chairing the ā€œPost Covid-19 Tourism Sectors Dialogue Session – Sarawak Reopens for Tourismā€ held at Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching (BCCK) today.

He revealed that RM1 million will be allocated forĀ  the Visitors Incentive Package (VIP) whereby local Sarawak tour companies licenced by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia are eligible to apply.

ā€œThe tour package must include tax at a hotel or homestay. We have set aside RM1 million for this incentive,ā€ 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.

ā€œTo increase Sarawakā€™s digital footprint, share of voice and to prepare the industryā€™s playersā€™ 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,ā€ 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.

ā€œTourism is one of the 14 sectors for the SEAC to focus on,ā€ added Abdul Karim.ā€”DayakDaily.