KUCHING: The Sarawak Tourism Carnival, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), is aimed at promoting the state as a preferred destination for leisure, adventure, health, and education tourism and to update visitors on the latest tourism products in the state for the Indonesian market.
In a press statement today, the board said visitors to the carnival, which took place from November 25 to 27, at Ayani Mall in Pontianak, were able to grab exciting tour packages offered by participating travel agents and operators for a vacation or a trip to various attractive tourism destinations across Sarawak.
STB chief executive officer Sharzede Datuk Salleh Askor, in her welcoming remarks read by STB director of Marketing (ASEAN & Domestic) Barbara Benjamin Atan, said that as Sarawak’s closest neighbour, both Sarawak and Pontianak have enjoyed mutual benefits of border tourism.
“Through border tourism, both sectors in each nation have helped generate employment opportunities, enhance local economies, raise the standard of living of local communities across borders, and improve investment opportunities in new businesses in the region,” she added.
The Governor of West Kalimantan H. Sutarmidji, visited the carnival and took part in the joint celebration of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia at Sarawak’s booth.
Sarawak’s participating tourism partners at the carnival include the Malaysian Health Travel Council (MHTC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Borneo Medical Centre Kuching, Great Leap Tours Travel Sdn Bhd, Innosar Holiday Sdn Bhd, Khaimal Borneo Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, Al Fateh Worldwide Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital, Pullman Kuching, Pullman Miri Waterfront, Normah Medical Specialist Centre, Timberland Medical Centre, Penview Hotel Kuching, as well as Damai Beach Resort.
“Sarawak is one of the increasingly popular destinations for health and wellness tourism because of its affordable and high-quality health services offered by 13 established private medical institutions and hospitals in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.
“Over 53,000 people visiting the state were seeking medical treatments during the pre-pandemic period from all over the ASEAN region.
“With West Kalimantan and Sarawak’s close geographical proximity, STB, together with MHTC and participating medical organisations, are actively promoting Sarawak as an ideal location for those seeking to rehabilitate and heal throughout the carnival,” it said in the statement.
Among the activities held at the carnival were a poster design competition for primary and secondary school students and a painting demonstration by UNIMAS lecturer Sylvester Wielding Jussem.
