KUCHING: Sarawak recorded 600,037 visitors for the month of January and February this year, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
This is an increase of 320.2 per cent in tourist arrivals compared to the figures in 2021.
“Our target for 2023 is 3 million visitors. Previously for 2022, we have set a target of 1.2 million but as of December 2022, a total of 2.02 million visitors had come to Sarawak.
“Looking at the number of arrivals in February and January and the line-up of programmes which will be held until the end of the year, I’m very sure we will exceed the 3-million target that we have set,” he told a press conference after chairing the State Tourism Steering Committee Meeting here, yesterday (March 21).
In order to achieve the target, he said more improvements needed to be done in terms of infrastructure and tourism products.
“We have discussed at length on the infrastructure and tourism products. In fact, we will upgrade the facilities in the national parks this year because the national parks such as Bako National Park, attract foreign tourists,” he added.
According to Karim, Sarawak will also host many international events this year such as ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA), the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), and the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta, to name a few.
“Last year we could see as many as 16 countries participating (in Regatta), so apart from the Sarawak Regatta, there are still many more events to be held.
“The location of the event is not only focused in Kuching, but also at other areas such as in Kota Samarahan, Serian and Sri Aman,” he said. With such big events in the line-up, Abdul Karim hoped that this would contribute to the increase in the number of visitors to Sarawak this year.
