MIRI: The Sarawak government is helping heritage, tourism, arts and culture industry to recover from the Covid-19 impact through the Heritage, Culture and Arts Facilities Fund.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew disclosed that the fund was established to encourage and to ensure the continuity of heritage, culture and arts affected by the pandemic.
“This fund is open to all individual art activist, associations, organisations and non-governmental organisations in Sarawak.
“Sarawak is one of the many countries that is rich in culture, history, sites and buildings that were glorious in the past.
“I am confident that all this heritage inheritance still exists today and to continue promoting tourism in Sarawak.”
Ting pointed out that the tourism industry played a big role in economic development, especially in Sarawak.
“This is proven when we had a lull in 2020 and 2021 when the pandemic started. From January to May 2022, the industry finally got going when we recorded 439,150 tourist arrivals compared to the previous year. In addition to that, Sarawak aims to welcome 1.2 million tourists this year with RM3.2bil in profit.”
Ting was speaking at the launch of ‘Roadshow of Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, 2019″ here on Wednesday (June 29).
He added that the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, 2019 would assist in efforts to conserve, preserve and manage the state’s heritage assets efficiently.
“The Sarawak Heritage Ordinance, 2019 enhances heritage management holistically with a more updated and effective system.”
He also revealed that the Sarawak Museum Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation were in the process of nominating the Niah National Park in Miri as a Unesco World Heritage site.
Also present at the launch was Sarawak Museum Department deputy director Dayang Morzanah Awang Haddy.
