Uggah presents a memento to a guest. From left are ACEA president Datuk Stanley Ling and Abdul Karim.
KUCHING: Technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can open great potential for Sarawak’s economic digitalisation, especially in the tourism sector, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said such technologies know no bounds in terms of promoting tourism compared to the old method of printed visuals.
“Sarawak is now in the process of improving its Internet infrastructure. We need good connectivity and fast Internet speed because it is essential to ensure the success of the state’s economic digitisation,” he said in a speech read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at a Digital Tourism Forum 2018 dinner on Friday.
“But all the funds spent and efforts made to digitise Sarawak’s economy will not succeed without the involvement of the entrepreneur community to shift to digital technology. We need everyone to be involved in developing our digital economy infrastructure.”
On Sarawak’s tourism industry, Abang Johari said it has undergone a transformation with new technologies never imagined in the past.
“All this is happening right now and all aspects of tourism are made through mobile phones from promotions, purchases and payments,” he said.
The dinner and forum were hosted by the Asean-China Entrepreneur’s Association (ACEA) with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
On ACEA, Abang Johari said although the association is still young, it plays an important role in strengthening bilateral ties between Sarawak, Asean and China.
In his speech, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the corporate sector’s support and cooperation are crucial to help promote Sarawak to foreign investors.
“We have another 11 years to achieve the state’s advanced status in 2030 and under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak is now actively developing the state. Sarawak is rich in natural resources and is full of potential business opportunities,” he said.
“Hence, it is important for the corporate sector to help and establish a platform for Sarawak to share information, explore business opportunities and establish bilateral ties with Asean and other countries in the region.”