KUCHING: Sarawak is on track to be the country’s premier tourism destination by 2030.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg was confident of achieving this goal, citing the comprehensive ecosystem and strategic investments implemented to enhance the state’s tourism industry.
“We have put in investment to attract tourists, be they business or natural tourists to come over to Sarawak to enjoy our hospitality,” he said when officiating at the grand opening of Sheraton Kuching Hotel here last night (Feb 18).
Abang Johari said among the efforts made was the acquisition of MASwings and hopefully the matter would materialised by the third quarter of this year.
“Our approach with MASwings differs from conventional business models. We have devised our own strategy,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the acquisition, he stressed the importance of air connectivity, particularly for Sarawakians traveling home during festive seasons.
“Normally when you invest in a certain project, you would calculate the return on investment (ROI). But for the airline and as far as Sarawak is concerned, because we are on an island, you need this airline as the bridge to bring tourists to Sarawak.
“What is important is the trickle-down effect or spin-offs that will be measured as the success of this airline particularly on our gross domestic product (GDP) growth,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Emirates Airline, Abang Johari highlighted the potential of MASwings to serve as a connectivity hub, similar to Dubai.
He highlighted another crucial investment — the development of the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) public transport system, aimed at providing safe and cashless transportation for travellers.
The government’s commitment to the ART system is evident with an investment exceeding RM5 billion, entirely funded by the Sarawak government.
“When you travel to London or other cities, you take the public transport. It is from there you go to your destination without fear of being cheated.
“This is because sometimes people complain of being charged not according to the meter price. That is the reason why in Kuching we are doing ART, and from the airport to your destination it will be cashless and safe,” he said.
On the government’s other efforts, he said they’ve included the expansion of Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) to cater for international conferences that could accommodate close to 10,000 participants.
