KUCHING: Sarawak welcomed 1,189,718 tourists from January to March this year and is on track to achieve its four million tourist arrival target, according to Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister expressed confidence that the state is on course to reach its target of four million visitors by September this year.
“Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of visitors from January to March 2024 saw a substantial increase. In 2023, there were 923,997 visitors, marking a 28.76 per cent surge in 2024.
“The number of foreign tourists during the same period also saw significant growth, rising from 496,636 in 2023 to 735,074 in 2024, reflecting a 48.61 per cent increase.
“Similarly, the tourism receipts for January to March 2024 surged to RM3.07 billion, a notable increase from RM2.34 billion in 2023, indicating a 31.20 per cent growth within just three months. This is something we should be very proud of,” he said.
He said this after a press conference on the IMEX Frankfurt 2024 at Baitul Makmur II Building, here today (Apr 17).
Abdul Karim noted that Brunei accounted for the largest number of tourists, with 206,273 visitors in March 2024 alone, a substantial increase from 103,000 in March 2023.
“Even though they are part of Borneo, they come down here to the market, to buy, as tourists,” he explained.
He also identified the top visitor nationalities as being from Brunei, Indonesia, China, and Singapore, with nearly equal numbers from China and Singapore at around 5,900 and 5,500, respectively; and 46,284 Indonesian visitors recorded in March 2024.
As for potential impacts of the Middle East conflict on tourism, Abdul Karim hoped any effect would be minimal.
“Normally, at any one time in a year, there’s bound to be a war somewhere. Whether it’s going to have a very big impact on us, that depends if it affects the flight routes.
“Of course, there will impacts on the oil prices at those countries at war. Whether it will have a big impact (on tourism), we will see,” he added.
