2 hours ago
5
ADVERTISE HERE
A Sarawak tourism activity usually held in the United States has been put on hold while the state government reassesses its reliance on the US and other Western powers, says senior state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Karim, who is state minister of tourism, creative industry and performing arts, said the state government is now exploring closer engagement with Eastern nations in view of the Middle East conflict, Dayak Daily reported.
“All this while, we have looked up to the US and other Western powers, but now the world is seeing things differently,” Karim said at the ministry’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Kuching today.
Karim said the state government had already taken concrete steps to reflect this shift by putting on hold a ministry event normally held annually in the US.
Earlier today, he had been quoted as saying that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could help boost domestic tourism, as global uncertainties often encourage people to travel within the country rather than overseas.
“Based on past experiences, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarawak’s tourism industry remained resilient through various initiatives even though borders were closed and flights were limited,” Bernama reported him as saying.
Karim said the state has contingency plans in place for any prolonged crisis.
English (US) ·