Abdul Karim (seated, centre) speaking to reporters at the press conference.

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By Christopher Lidom

KUCHING, Sept 20: Sarawak has recorded a tourism receipt of RM8.5 billion as of August this year, according to Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP).

During a press conference at the Waterfront Hotel today, Abdul Karim revealed that the state has welcomed approximately 3.3 million visitors so far in 2024, reflecting a 26.8 per cent increase compared to 2.6 million arrivals during the same period in 2023.

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“With the current arrival rates, we are on track to meet our target of 4 million visitors, and by December, we could potentially reach 5 million,” Abdul Karim said.

He attributed the rise in tourist arrivals to various high-profile events hosted in Sarawak, including the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2024.

He also highlighted that upcoming events such as the Sarawak Regatta and the International Dragon Boat Race are expected to further boost the number of visitors.

“We anticipate that the number of arrivals will continue to rise before the end of the year,” Abdul Karim added. — DayakDaily