KUCHING, Mar 15: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah led 15 delegates to the United Nations of World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid, Spain on March 10, marking a momentous occasion.
According to a press release, this is Sarawak’s first official visit to UNWTO to explore opportunities for collaboration, primarily on responsible tourism initiatives, sustainable tourism policies and practices, tourism marketing intelligence, tourism data management, and capacity building for Sarawak’s tourism industry.
“This official visit has strengthened the relationship and partnership between the ministry and UNWTO over the long term and has accelerated the recovery of the Sarawak tourism industry.
“The official visit also successfully introduced Sarawak as a responsible tourism destination and a leading destination for eco-tourism and business events in Southeast Asia, which is in line with the PCDS 2030 (Post Covid-19 Development Strategy).
“In addition, the visit touched on the importance of biodiversity conservation, intangible and tangible cultural heritage conservation, climate change, and the blue and green economy,” it stated.
Furthermore, the Sarawak delegation was introduced to UNWTO expert areas and initiatives such as the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), One Planet initiatives (Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism), Best Tourism Village, and the World Tourism Barometer as potential catalysts to assist Sarawak in its journey towards sustainable development.
Additionally, the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has expressed interest in joining the UNWTO Affiliate Members network and has expressed support for the idea of promoting UNWTO Affiliate Membership to other tourism stakeholders in the province, particularly academia.
“The Sarawak Research Society (SRS) was invited to join the Panel of Tourism Experts who form part of the UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index of the World Tourism Barometer.
“UNWTO has recommended that the Honourable Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Research Society to join the upcoming 25th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, as well as the 35th Commission of Asia Pacific-Commission of South Asia (CAP-CSA) in Cambodia.
“The Ministry is also looking to participate in the 38th Seoul International Travel Fair and 2023 World Tourism Industry Conference, which will be co-hosted by UNWTO and held from May 4th to 7th, 2023 at COEX Hall C in Seoul, South Korea,” according to the press statement.
Similarly, UNWTO will continue to participate in Sarawak’s homegrown event, the International Conference of Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH) 2023 in Bagor, Indonesia, as part of a joint collective effort to drive responsible tourism for sustainable development.
Sarawak has been at the forefront of responsible tourism in Southeast Asia since 2021.
Meanwhile, during the second day of the 2023 ITB Berlin, Abdul Karim and the international media from National Geographic and Discovery Channel held two important meetings at the Sarawak Pavilion to promote Sarawak.
“This was a great opportunity for Sarawak to showcase its unique culture and attractions to the world in the year ahead,” the press statement said. — DayakDaily
