By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 2: Driven by a tourism industry that already contributes a substantial 37 per cent or nearly one-third of Sarawak’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) sets an ambitious target to increase tourism GDP by 11 per cent by 2030.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah added that by 2030, the Ministry also wants to see stronger visitor growth to achieve a 7.5 per cent annual increase in visitor arrivals and generate 25 per cent of total employment in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Emphasising tourism’s importance, he highlighted its role as one of the six key economic sectors under the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS).
“To give you an idea of how important tourism is to Sarawak; tourism is part of the services industry which accounts for 37 per cent of our gross domestic product in 2023,” he said when announcing the 1st Asean Tourist Guides Conference at his Ministry’s office today.
Sarawak’s tourism industry saw remarkable success in 2023, with tourism receipts reaching RM9.99 billion which marked a staggering 101.41 per cent growth.
Despite these positive statistics, Abdul Karim emphasised the need to support and promote tourist guides, and educate travellers about the value tourist guides may bring to travellers, especially the unique experiences they offer.
He acknowledged that in the age dominated by the internet, tourist guides faced increasing challenges as travellers have more access to information and travel services online more than ever before.
“Tourist guides are storytellers — they have historical and cultural information about the destination, offer personalised experiences and bridge language barriers and cultural gaps. Most of all, they ensure safety and security,” he said.
As such, Abdul Karim underlined the importance of the Conference in transforming the tourism industry, especially to explore how tourist guides can navigate the digital age and thrive alongside technological advancements.
The Conference, themed ‘Togetherness in Tour Guiding Excellence’ is slated to be held from Oct 24 to 26 at Imperial Hotel.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting, MTCP Permanent Secretary Datu Sherrina Hussiani, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) chief executive officer (CEO) Amelia Roziman and Sarawak Tourist Guides Association (STGA) honorary chairman Edwin Lim were present.— DayakDaily
