KUCHING: The Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) aims to boost business tourism by attracting more Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) groups to Sarawak.
CEO Chew Chang Guan pointed out MICE groups and corporate entities as key targets for the office, aiming to diversify the visitor profile beyond the current trend of free, independent travellers (FIT) from Singapore.
While FIT travellers are prevalent, he noted that MICE groups present an opportunity for growth, and STATOS is collaborating with Business Events Sarawak to actively engage potential associations or clubs interested in bringing MICE groups to Sarawak.
“We are willing to work with them in order to attract more MICE groups coming here,” he told New Sarawak Tribune on Tuesday (Feb 13).
In addition to MICE groups, STATOS is focusing on bringing more schools to Sarawak for cross-cultural learning in 2024.
Regarding trade and investment, Chew expressed the hope for increased engagement with government agencies from Singapore to strengthen bilateral relationships with Sarawak, especially concerning investment opportunities in the pipeline.
Statistics indicate that around 60,000 Singaporeans visited Sarawak last year, with direct flights from Kuching, Sibu, and Miri to Singapore contributing to this number.
With such connectivity, Chew expressed optimism that there will be more tourists coming to Sarawak and discover what the state has to offer.
