by Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Feb 20: Sarawak has recorded as many as 352,983 visitors earlier this January, marking a 10.63 per cent increase in arrivals as opposed to the previous year with 319,064 visitors, said Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
According to Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, there has been a growth of 22.63 per cent in the number of foreign visitors in January this year, from 172,983 to 212,125.
“(These) are very good indicators,” he said, and hoped to reach the target of four million visitors before the end of this year.
He also pointed out that the number of foreign visitors will also continually increase following the various events that the State will organise, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) as well as the promotions done by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) during business events.
At the conference, Abdul Karim also disclosed that Sarawak’s tourism receipts amounted to RM907.37 million in January — a growth of 12.11 per cent as opposed to the corresponding period in 2023.
Abdul Karim will head to Berlin the following week to officiate the Sarawak Pavilion at ITB Berlin 2024 and simultaneously promote Sarawak’s specialties at the event. —DayakDaily
