CORONAVIRUS WATCH
KUCHING: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) has affected the tourism industry in Sarawak, but tourism players here have been urged to look for better opportunities within the industry.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the tourism industry could look into attracting domestic tourists from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or from the state itself.
He said due to the virus outbreak, many bookings for holidays and social visits, whether inbound or outbound, had been cancelled and affected tourism industry players.
“Once we fall, we must learn to get up. So I have been telling tourism players to look for other opportunities, and I’m very sure you can do it,” he said in a press conference after a dialogue with tourism players from the hotel line, travel agents and tour guides at his Baitulmakmur office here, yesterday.
He said tourists from China accounted for a considerable numbers of visitors to Sarawak, with 39,933 visitors in 2019 ― an average of 3,000 to 4,000 Chinese tourists in a month.
“We seek the understanding of airlines, hotels, transportation companies to give due consideration to passengers and tour agencies who have to cancel flights and hotel bookings due to the outbreak of the virus.
Wherever feasible, refund or extension of validity will be considered,” he said.
He said in view of the safety and security of Sarawakians and tourists alike, the State Disaster Management Committee also decided to temporary bar those who have been to China in the last 14 days from entering the state, except those with employment pass, student pass, or those married to Sarawakians, and must undergo self-quarantine for two weeks at home.
“I want to thank the tourism industry for understanding the state government for taking such a measure. And I’m very happy to see that those in the tourism industry are quite open to this,” he said.
On his ministry’s side, Abdul Karim said they would not stop tourism promotion programmes or events, and would ensure international events such as Rainforest World Music Festival, What About Kuching and other major events would continue.
He said the country had encountered tough times like this during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, and there were some assistance from the federal government to tourism industry players then.
“I was made to understand, they (federal government) are now looking at creating a stimulus package to assist the tourism industry. And I do hope the federal government can look into considering this,” he said.
He said whereas in Singapore, the government would waive some of the tourism operator licence fees.
“Maybe the Federal Ministry of Tourism can also look into this. If they can come out with some stimulus package, soft loan, waiver of this licensing temporarily. It will do a lot of good for those in the tourism industry,” he stressed.
Abdul Karim said so far, Sarawak is free from the virus as there have been no cases ― just only eight out of 32 suspected cases were still awaiting test results.
“Touch wood…we hope it continues to be like this and the state is free from the virus.”
