Sea Games: Sarawak makes written commitment

KUCHING: Sarawak has made a written pledge to cover half the estimated RM700 million cost to host the Sea Games in 2027.

Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this commitment has been given despite the event’s higher price tag compared to the RM650 million spent on the 2018 Sea Games.

He added that federal government initially doubted Sarawak’s willingness to shoulder such a substantial portion, prompting a formal written commitment from the Premier.

“The federal government asked us how committed we were, and we assured them that we would bear half of the costs,” he said during the Terengganu-Sarawak Cross-Cultural Programme dinner here on Tuesday (Aug 20).

“Recovering a RM350 million investment quickly is unrealistic as you cannot expect a return on that kind of investment from the government.

“It will, however, go into the industry. Into the hospitality industry, including hotels, food stalls, crafts, and automobile or transportation services,”,” he said.

Furthermore, he also emphasised the importance of major events like the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) and the upcoming International Dragon Boat Festival in driving the state’s tourism sector.

“Sarawak is gearing up for the International Dragon Boat Race, which will see participation from over 20 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Cyprus,” he said.

According to Abdul Karim, the event is expected to attract over 2,000 participants, further solidifying Sarawak’s position as a hub for international sporting events.

However, due to the overwhelming response, the event will be limited to three days this year.

“The key element of Sarawak’s tourism success lies in its proactive and independent participation in global tourism fairs

“Unlike other regions that depend on national tourism bodies for promotion, Sarawak has established its own presence at international tourism expos such as Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB) Berlin, World Travel Market (WTM) London, and IMEX Frankfurt,” he said.

He added that this strategy has enabled Sarawak to directly engage with global markets and showcase its unique offerings.

“This approach has yielded positive results, with Sarawak seeing a rise in visitor numbers and increased demand for hotel accommodation,” he said.

He added that the success has highlighted a need for more hotel rooms, prompting the government to consider approving new hotel constructions in collaboration with the private sector.

“The steady influx of visitors, particularly during major events like the Sukma and the International Dragon Boat Festival, has underscored the need for further investment in hospitality infrastructure,” he said.

Sarawak is also emerging as a hub for medical tourism, particularly for visitors from neighbouring Indonesia.

The state’s healthcare facilities are attracting international patients, contributing to the local economy as these visitors often stay for extended periods, he said.