KUCHING: The number of tourist arrivals next year is expected to go beyond the four million targeted for 2012 as the Sarawakian tourism industry expands under the many initiatives taken to attract visitors.
ICONIC: Photo shows a worker cleaning the pond nearby the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building in Kuching, a city undergoing a facelift to attract more visitors in the near future. — Bernama photo
“Sarawak has a lot of unique offerings, geographical advantages and many other attractions which can attract tourists.
“Kuching is already in the process of a facelift to attract more tourists, with the iconic Dewan Undangan Negeri or Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building now standing as a major landmark in the city,” said Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation chairman during an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post.
Talib believed that the city’s close geographical proximity with Singapore provided Kuching with a lot of opportunities to be successfully marketed as a convenient, inexpensive and safe destination, especially to the student market.
“We could additionally supplement Singapore’s city themes with our culture, adventure and nature themes to create a win-win situation.”
The chairman also joked that he had been to many cities and towns in the state and had never faced any problems with crime or chaos, a further testament to the peaceful environment the state possesses.
With regards to the Meeting Incentive Conference and Exhibition (MICE) segment, he pointed out that the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) had been positive about growth.
“As such, this indicates that Kuching is well known as a convention centre amongst event planners. This city is unique as an international convention venue because it can offer packages that other bigger cities cannot,” he said, in reference to the cultural experience of visiting the rainforest and a river cruise.
Talib said that he was optimistic that visitor arrivals into Sarawak would continue to grow. For 2012, he is confident that Sarawak would reach its four million visitors arrivals targeted for the year, which is a five per cent increase from the 3.8 million arrivals in 2011.
As of October 2012, the state has already registered 3,269,629 arrivals.
“Next year will be an exciting year for Sarawak. The nation will be embarking on various activities in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2013 and this celebration will coincide with Sarawak’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
He went on to point out many of Sarawak’s festivals which would also continue to successfully attract an influx of visitors, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri, Sarawak Regatta and Borneo International Kite Festival in Bintulu.
“There will be plenty of events lined up and it is the perfect time to visit Sarawak,” the chairman explained.