KUCHING: With the Covid-19 virus outbreak in the way, Sarawak’s aim to hit five million tourist arrivals this year may not be easy.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said in January this year, Sarawak recorded 419,776 visitors from West Malaysia – an increase of 16.17 per cent compared to 361,334 visitors in January last year.
“If we do not have Covid-19, and the increase of visitors continues, we would have hit the target of five million visitors to Sarawak easily.
“But then, February frustrated us when it recorded 311,168 visitors, a 7.52 per cent decrease compared to February last year (336,488 visitors).
“Thus, we will be watching closely the months of March, April, May, June and July,” he told reporters after chairing the Sarawak Tourism Steering Committee meeting held at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
Abdul Karim said foreign arrivals would definitely be lower compared to local visitors from West Malaysia and Sabah.
“However, with the kinds of promotion on domestic tourism that Sarawak is doing throughout the nation, it is hoped to bring some effect.
“Probably the effect would not be immediately seen in March but we hope it will show changes slightly starting the middle of the year,” he said.
He said although Covid-19 had caused the decrease in tourist arrivals to Sarawak, the state was still lucky compared to neighbouring Sabah, which had almost 50 per cent tourists from China.
“So when you close the door to China, the local tourism industry will collapse. Luckily, Chinese tourists to Sarawak for the last few years have always been around two to three per cent only and not up to 50 per cent,” he explained.
Among those present yesterday were Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting, ministry permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee and Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor.
