By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 16: Sarawak may hit its 2023 target of 3 million tourist arrivals by September considering that it has exceeded the month-to-month targets, says Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“Although we have targeted 3 million (tourists) this year, so far it has exceeded our target as far as month-to-month (targets are concerned).
“Although we have yet to reach December, I think by September we will hit the 3 million (target) already by looking at the rate that we are moving now.
“I wouldn’t be surprised that we will hit more than 4 million by the time we reach December. That means there will be an extra of 1 million over our initial target of 3 million,” said the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak during a press conference at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today.
As of April 2023, Sarawak recorded 1,288,036 visitor arrivals, an increase of 315.41 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.
Meanwhile, visitor arrivals for April 2023 alone totalled 364,039 compared to 80,386 in the same period last year, an increase of 352.86 per cent.
In terms of tourism receipts for the first four months this year, Sarawak recorded RM3.27 billion where RM930.29 million was recorded in the month of April alone.
Amongst those present at the press conference were Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu; Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development Dr Ripin Lamat; and Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts’s (MTCP) permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini. — DayakDaily
