5 million tourist target in sight

BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & NURIN PATRA

KUCHING: Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is confident Sarawak will hit the five million visitor mark by September or October this year.

Speaking at a press conference for the Padawan Raft Safari 2024 at Baitul Makmur II building today (Aug 6), Karim said Sarawak welcomed 2.4 million visitors between January and June 2024, a 23.27 per cent increase from the same period last year.

“Foreign visitor arrivals surged by 31.2 per cent to 1.4 million during the first half of 2024,” he said.

“This robust growth underscores the vital role of tourism and hospitality in Sarawak’s economy.”

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Tourism receipts also climbed 25.29 per cent to RM6.23 billion in the first six months of the year.

Karim said Sarawak’s tourism peak was in 2019 with 4.6 million visitors but expressed optimism about surpassing that figure this year.

“We’ve already welcomed 2.4 million visitors by June,” he said.

“International events like the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta 2024 and the International Pickle Ball Tournament are driving growth.”

He added that the tourism boom will benefit hotels, transportation providers, and handicraft businesses.
Also present at the press conference were Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman Tan Kai and other dignitaries.