By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 7: Sarawak needs more five-star and boutique hotels as the State expands its international events calendar and seeks to boost tourism receipts rather than focus solely on visitor numbers.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the demand for quality accommodation would become increasingly important as Sarawak hosts larger international gatherings, including a proposed major sporting event involving 57 countries in 2029.
“If the president, head of state, prime minister or other dignitaries were to come over for the opening ceremony, where are you going to place them? Surely, we can’t put them in a three-star hotel,” he said after officiating the Sarawak Women of Tomorrow (SWOT) 2026, Season 5 at Damai Lagoon Resort, Santubong, today.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak would therefore need more five-star properties, as well as boutique hotels capable of accommodating the delegates.
Sarawak has previously been reported to be planning to host the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Friendship Games in 2029, with the international sporting event expected to involve participants from 57 countries.
However, the proposal remains at the negotiation stage, with an official announcement to be made only after formal confirmation is received.
Abdul Karim said the push for greater hotel capacity was part of a broader strategy to strengthen Sarawak’s tourism industry as the State continues to pursue its five-million visitor target.
However, he stressed that tourism performance should not be measured by arrivals alone.
Sarawak recorded 4.98 million visitors last year, and Abdul Karim expressed hope that the State could surpass the five-million mark this year, although he acknowledged that external factors, including the conflict in the Middle East and higher airfares, could affect arrivals.
“I’m still happy as long as we can go beyond four million, because I’m also looking at the tourism receipts,” he said.
Abdul Karim said tourism receipts averaged more than RM1 billion a month last year, while the monthly average from January to September this year had also exceeded RM1 billion.
He said the revenue did not necessarily flow directly into the State’s coffers but circulated throughout the tourism ecosystem, benefiting hotels, restaurants, handicraft businesses and other related sectors.
He also highlighted the rapid growth of medical tourism in Sarawak, noting that three new hospitals had been approved, including Gleneagles, Regency and another hospital development.
Beyond medical tourism, Abdul Karim said Sarawak was broadening its business events and sports tourism calendar, with the SEA Games and World Water Congress in 2028 among the major events expected to draw international visitors and delegates.
He said the strategy also applied to Sarawak’s upgraded sports facilities, which would require a steady stream of events to maximise their use and help strengthen the State’s sports industry.
Abdul Karim stressed that Sarawak’s tourism strategy was not simply about attracting more visitors, but about ensuring they experienced and appreciated the State’s environment, ecosystem and culture.
“We wouldn’t want Sarawak to be seen like Venice, to be seen like Bali, to be seen like Pattaya, whereby people come in just as long as there are numbers,” he said.
He said Sarawak would therefore remain selective in pursuing tourism growth, with tourism receipts and the wider economic benefits generated for local industries serving as key indicators alongside visitor arrivals. — DayakDaily
