ITB Berlin News #3

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Datuk Abdul Karim
Rahman Hamzah
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture
cum Minister of Youth and Sport,
Sarawak
WE ARE
BUILDING
CONNECTIVITY
AND
ACCESSIBILITY
FOR WHAT
REMAINS FOR
MANY A TRULY
MYSTICAL
DESTINATION
Tourism - an essential pillar
of Sarawak’s economy
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,
Culture, Youth and Sports 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 2 nd 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 and also 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
www.sarawaktourism.com
SMART GUIDE 5