ITB Berlin News #3

I REGION I ASIA I
Datuk Abdul Karim
Rahman Hamzah
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture
cum Minister of Youth and Sport,
Sarawak
Tourism -
an essential pillar
of Sarawak’s economy
WE ARE BUILDING
CONNECTIVITY
AND ACCESSIBILITY
FOR WHAT
REMAINS FOR
MANY A TRULY
MYSTICAL
DESTINATION
Exclusive interview: Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of
Tourism, Arts and Culture cum Minister of Youth and Sport, Sarawak
According to the “regional satellite account” of Sarawak
2018, tourism generated RM11bn (€2.43bn) – 7.5% of
Sarawak’s gross domestic product. We asked Minister
of Tourism, Arts and Culture cum Minister of Youth and
Sport, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to tell us
more.
In 2018, 240,000 people were
employed in Sarawak thanks to
the tourism industry: 19.1% of
Sarawak’s workforce.
Our focus is on culture, adventure,
nature, food & festivals (CANFF).
This also means tourist attractions
are not only focused on urban
areas but are extended to villages
and rural areas. In terms of road
connectivity, two projects will
be completed this year, in the
areas of Sibu and Kapit, opening
up new areas along the Rejang
River, where tourists will be able
to explore the exquisite nature of
these untouched rural areas. Then
there is the Bintulu – Sungai Asap
– Belaga link. Sungai Asap is a new
settlement and Belaga is a big
town in the area.
How is tourism infrastructure
evolving?
Sarawak’s State government
supports the upgrading of
infrastructure such as the Pan
Borneo Highway, Coastal Highway,
museums and sports arenas. We
are also dedicated to the upgrading
and development of the internet in
Sarawak to improve connectivity
for tourists, developing the
Sarawak Travel Application. We are
continuing to build connectivity by
seeking to attract new airlines and
routes into Sarawak’s key airports.
An unprecedented number of new
tourism projects are opening in
the coming months and years. The
2nd largest Museum in Southeast
Asia will open in Kuching at the
end of 2020. Then there are the
Sarawak Culture Museums, also in
2020; the Performing Arts Centre
– to be completed within 2 years;
the Santubong Archaeological and
Wildlife Centre, the Beautification
of Pangkalan Sapi, the upgrading of
waterfront facilities; construction
of a riverside walkway from Fort
Margherita to the Darul-Hana
Bridge; development of museums
in Limbang; Tusan beach facilities;
Sadong-Jaya mangrove tourism
– a sanctuary for birds to migrate
from Indo-China, with the gazetting
of the area as a National Park; at
the Niah Cave, there is extensive
upgrading of the walkway from the
river to the cave, along with the
addition of bungee track and trails;
and finally upgrading of Bako
National Park and Semenggoh
Nature Reserve’s facilities.
What if your “message” to travel
professionals from around the
world?
Our tourism products are very
exotic for visitors from Europe of
the Middle East, because most
have never seen “nature in the
raw” such as what can be found
in Sarawak. We are building
connectivity and accessibility
for what remains for many a
truly mystical destination, with
the focus on our “big five” -
culture, adventure, nature, food &
festivals
SARAWAK LAUNCHES
SMARTguide
As a valuable resource for travel
professionals around the world,
Sarawak Tourism Board has
commissioned a comprehensive
SMARTguide, which was completed
to coincide with the scheduled
opening of ITB Berlin. This guide aims
to be a veritable “decision-making
tool” for the travel professional,
delivering important destination
news and new ideas when it comes to
planning travel to this place. We are
sure you will find it to be extremely
valuable for all those in the travel
planning business.
Click on the image to read
the SMARTguide.
32 • ITB BERLIN NEWS • THURSDAY 19 TH MARCH 2020
www.itb-berlin-news.com