By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 10: A Singaporean tourist recently purchased over RM10,000 worth of “hei bi” or dried shrimps in Sibu to bring home.
Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office (Statos) Singapore chief executive officer Chew Chang Guan pointed out that this reflects Sarawak’s attractiveness as a shopping destination for local produce, bolstered by the favourable exchange rate.
He also noted that Sarawak’s reputation as a gastronomic paradise resonates wells with Singaporeans’ love for food.
“For the past five years, we have strategically positioned various regions of Sarawak including Kuching, Sibu, Miri, and Mulu, each with its unique appeal.
“The feedback we received has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their love for Sarawak and its incredibly friendly people,” he said during the Singapore-Sarawak Travel Connect 2024 (Kuching) networking lunch at a hotel here today.
Marking the 5th anniversary of Statos’ establishment in Singapore, Chew expressed gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for their support.
“This is why it is imperative that we continue to bring more agents, universities, polytechnic groups from Singapore to Sarawak. As the saying goes, ‘If you never never go, you will never never know’ the charm that Sarawak holds,” he remarked.
Looking ahead to 2025, Chew highlighted that Statos will intensify efforts to introduce more of Sarawak to new market segments in fostering meaningful connections that extend beyond traditional tourism products.
Statos also aims to capture markets beyond Singapore, particularly cities in China served by Scoot Airline and Singapore Airlines, given the seamless transit options in Singapore and visa-free travel for Chinese nationals in both Singapore and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the event brought together 80 participants from the two regions, including 15 participants from existing and new travel agencies from Singapore specialising in Sarawak destinations, along with representatives from Singaporean universities such as Singapore University of Social Sciences and James Cook University.
Spanning seven days from July 9 to 15, it includes a familiarisation trip covering key destinations such as Kuching, Miri and Mulu, to provide firsthand experience of Sarawak’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and adventure tourism opportunities.
The participants are expected to visit Sarawak Cultural Village, Borneo Cultures Museum, the vibrant cityscape of Miri, and the magnificent caves of Mulu National Park. — DayakDaily
