Sarawak ready for change in tourism landscape — Abg Jo

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Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg

KUCHING: The government is committed to getting Sarawak ready for the changing landscape of tourism, even more so in 2015 when Asean becomes a single aviation market.

Tourism minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said that travelling used to be a luxury but today, that was no longer the case.

In a press release received here yesterday, he said budget airlines, budget hotels and exposure to places around the world through the Internet had made people realise they could see and experience new places and things at lower prices.

“This trend will be more apparent in 2015 when Asean becomes a single aviation market and competition in the skies even fiercer, bringing prices down even further,” he said.

“We don’t have to wait till then. The price war has already begun with Malindo’s RM79 one-way tickets chipping away at AirAsia’s market share,” he added.

Liberalisation, Abang Johari said was not only happening in the air but also taking place on the ground.

“There are on-going talks to make travel seamless between Asean member countries.

“In future, a visitor only needs to apply for a Cambodian visa to entitle him or her to travel from Siem Reap to Bangkok and Kuching.”

Abang Johari said changes were also observed in the growing number of Asian travellers.

“China is now the number one tourism market in the world with the number of Chinese tourists travelling outside the country hitting 97 million in 2013.

“Chinese tourists with their growing spending power are spoilt for choice. We need to be more serious about tourists from China and look towards getting more than the 30,000 Chinese tourists that we are getting now,” he said.

Back home, Abang Johari said Bruneians made up the largest number of arrivals into Sarawak with 2.6 million.

Apart from historical reasons and close proximity to Sarawak, he said the increase in the value of the Brunei dollar had led to an increase in the number of day trippers from Brunei into Sarawak.

“Going by the statistics, Indonesians and Filipinos are at number two and three respectively,” he said.

“It is clear that neighbouring countries are contributing a lot of tourism dollars into the country. Are we doing enough to make them stay longer and spend more?” Abang Johari questioned.

“Let us also not forget that domestic tourists too are also on the rise due to the increase in the number of direct flights to major airports in Sarawak,” he said.

The Kuala Lumpur-Kuching sector, he said, accounted for 52,000 seats per week.

“We also have direct flights from Penang to Kuching and Kota Bharu to Kuching. We will probably have more such direct flights which don’t necessarily have to pass through Kuala Lumpur.

“Many seasoned travellers from Peninsular Malaysia have yet to visit Sarawak and we want to tap into this market.”

Another trend happening in Sarawak’s favour, Abang Johari said was the increasing popularity of eco-tourism.

“Travellers are becoming increasingly interested in the natural environment and indigenous cultures which are fast disappearing. Sarawak seems to be in the right place and the right time to capitalise on this trend.

“Its location on the island of Borneo always evokes images of adventure, nature and culture and visitors will not be disappointed.

“We have to ensure that there are policies in place that emphasise sustainable practices to protect the natural habitat. Developments must be in harmony with nature and also must involve the local community,” he stressed.

The ministry, Abang Johari said was looking into the new tourism products centered around the newly created lakes in Bakun, for instance, which will showcase the history and the culture of the local people.

“The Ministry of Tourism has been a full portfolio in the state government since 2011 and we are working closely with our marketing arm – Sarawak Tourism Board – and Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd to promote destinations in Sarawak,” he said.

One important event on the horizon, he added, was Routes Asia 2014 organised for the first time in Kuching and which formed part of the year-long Visit Sarawak Year 2014 programme.

“We are certain that airlines, route-planners and revenue-optimisers will discover this truth at Routes Asia 2014. We want to use this event as a platform to hear what the industry wants and their response.

“We have to be prepared for the changing landscape which is inevitable. We are ready for these changes,” he added.

Abang Johari was confident that all infrastructure would be put in place in time as the government had made tourism a bigger priority taking into account the multiple economic benefits that it would bring to the people.

“Slowly but surely we are putting the infrastructure in place – airports, roads and hotels as well as taking an active role in international events.

“The government is taking the lead in building things up and we hope the private sector will follow through as it has always done,” he added.