KUCHING: Film tourism can become one of the most important sub-tourism sectors in Sarawak.
In stating this, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said the tourism industry is one of the main driving forces of the Sarawak economy.
“I firmly believe that tourism is the main vehicle to promote Sarawak to the world.
“However, to stay competitive in the challenging environment post Covid-19, we need to be creative in packaging our tourism product,” he said.
Towards this end he said film tourism can attract foreign direct investment to Sarawak’s economy.
“I am impressed by the efforts of the Sarawak Artistic, Entertainment and Creative Association to promote film tourism as one of the sub industries in Malaysia,” he said.
He said this during the Sarawak Invitational Creative Arts and Film Tourism Awards or SICAFA 2022 at Smoky George’s Smokehouse here on Monday (Oct 24).
“Every non-governmental organisation (NGOs) needs to walk hand in hand with the state government to develop the economic sector that can benefit the society at large,” he added.
Yap also said that creating an event related to a creative economy and culture is a good way to promote a working relationship between industry players and the government.
“It is a positive sign to show every society plays an important role in Sarawak’s economic development,” he added.
He hoped the SICAFA2022 will pave the way for a creative economy framework, which will involve every organisation, society and relevant government bodies.
Meanwhile, SICAFA2022 chairman Abdul Malik Abdullah said the awards is a recognition of the people involved with the creative industry, most notably film tourism.
“Film tourism is one of the newer sub industries in Malaysia, and has not been introduced widely to the people but already practiced among the filmmakers for a very long time,” he said.
He added that film tourism is an industry that people should venture into because it is one of the ways to develop the tourism economy as well.
The gala night of SICAFA 2022 is schedule to be held on Dec 16 at BaitulMal hall here.
