SIBU: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged both the federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and the state Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts to collaborate for the betterment of tourism in Sarawak.
Stressing the importance of joint efforts between federal and state ministries, he said: “We have both federal (Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing) and state (Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah) tourism ministers together with us tonight. Tiong, please don’t forget to bring a lot of tourists to Sarawak.
“They (both ministries) can work for the benefit of Sarawak tourism,” he said in his speech at the Sibu United Chinese Association (UCA) Chinese New Year gathering, which was graced by the Head of State Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi at Kingwood Hotel here last night (Feb 13).
Abang Johari said the collaboration between the two ministries could unlock the full potential of tourism in Sarawak, leading to economic growth and job creation.
He highlighted the forthcoming establishment of a state-owned airline, stressing a unique approach to its operations, likening it to infrastructure projects like bridges that prioritise facilitating mobility and economic growth.
“It’s just like building a bridge; when we build a bridge, we don’t talk about return on investment (ROI); what we talk about is facilitating mobility. The success will be measured by our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.
“Once we get a lot of tourists, we have a lot of people doing business coming over to Sarawak. That will create jobs, and what is important is the spin-off from this tourism sector,” he said.
Among the distinguished guests were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and his wife Datin Amar Enn Ong; Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi and his wife Datin Sadiah Buji; Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and his wife Datin Seri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar: and, Federal Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
