MIRI: Sarawak aims to attract three million arrivals and RM7.25 billion in tourism receipts this year.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting said Sarawak surpassed its target of 1.8 million visitors last year, recording more than two million visitor arrivals.
He said that the arrivals had increased by over 761.84 per cent compared to the same period in 2021.
“Based on my ministry’s statistics, in the year 2022, 2,027,446 tourists visited Sarawak. A total of 789,328 were foreigners from 28 countries.
“In 2022, tourism revenue increased by 825.93 per cent to RM4.96 billion compared to RM536.17 million in 2021.
“This strongly indicates that Sarawak tourism will be undergoing a healthy recovery stage in 2023,” he said after witnessing the handing over of the ‘Sayangi Miri’ landmark icon from the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) to Miri City Council yesterday (Jan 18).
Ting prised NSJA for its initiative to build the landmark icon, saying it will assist Miri’s tourism by painting a beautiful and colourful picture of the city.
“The ‘Sayangi Miri’ landmark icon is located in the centre of Miri City. The beautiful scenery can tourists and local folks,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ting revealed that Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is working closely with the Ministry of Tourism’s stakeholders to make Sarawak waterfalls more accessible and family-friendly.
He said Sarawak’s waterfalls are becoming a trending tourist attraction.
Also present were Miri Mayor Adam Yii and NSJA president Andy Jong.
