SIMUNJAN: There is a need to provide more hotel rooms and homestays in Sarawak to accommodate growing demands from tourists and visitors.
Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said this is especially notable in Kuching city where hotel rooms are typically fully booked when large-scale events are organised, citing the recent Rainforest World Music Festival as a precedent.
“What’s more, with the re-opening of the borders of neighbouring countries such as Brunei, Singapore and Thailand, of course we will receive a larger number of tourist arrivals.
In fact, during the recent Sarawak State Level Malaysia Family Aspiration Tour, almost all hotels are fully booked. This gives the impression that we need to provide more hotel rooms to accommodate this demand,” she said.
This was said this during her speech at the launching of Esplanade Simunjan, here yesterday.
She said her ministry will begin organising a series of workshops, trainings and courses with travel agents, homestay operators and community leaders in several places in Sarawak including Simunjan.
This will help to further enhance the development and packaging of tourism products, to enable the local community to monetise their local specialties.
“I call for homestay operators registered with MOTAC to take this opportunity to offer services that meet the tastes of tourists and visitors.”
Later when met at the sidelines, Nancy explained that her ministry also seeks to encourage homestay owners and hotel proprietors to offer additional services, while also promoting their localities.
“We are also assisting travel agencies in the state. However, additional assistance is subject to the discretion of the Finance Ministry.
“We will do our best to urge for more assistance and subsidies to aid these crucial tourism industry players,” she asserted.
Apart from that, she also called for the initiative to provide assistance to be given attention and deliberation by relevant ministries and agencies.
“This will indirectly expand the tourism industry while also spurring the local economies,” she added.
