Property Hunter Magazine Property Hunter Magazine Issue 51 - February 2014 | Page 34

/// Hot Topic /// HOT TOPIC Boosting Sarawak’s Tourism Industry in 2014 A s one of the most lucrative industries in Malaysia, the tourism industry is expected to garner total receipts of RM168 billion by 2020. According to Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Malaysia is expected to earn that amount from the targeted 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020 under the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP). Looking at Sarawak, if the current trend continues, total tourism receipts could breach the double digit RM10 billion revenue figure during Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014), spurred by higher spending from more tourist arrivals and participations in various events and conferences. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak, the state recorded RM6.62 billion in total tourism receipts in 2010, RM7.91 billion in 2011 and RM8.57 billion in 2012. Given such an upward trend, total tourism receipts fetched more than RM9 billion in 2013 and could potentially increased to more than RM10 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, Sarawak will showcase 34 www.PropertyHunter.com.my its own activities and promotional events to attract more tourists to visit the state in conjunction with VMY2014. These events are envisaged to draw more tourists besides lifting the economy by encouraging more spending and travels. Some of the top annual events and highlights include Rainforest World Music Festival, Borneo International Yachting Challenge, Sarawak Regatta, Borneo Jazz, Mukah Kaul Festival, World Harvest Festival, Borneo International Kite Festival, Borneo Cultural Festival and Tidal Bore Carnival. Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said, “The Ministry of Tourism Sarawak will highlight 13 major tourism events in conjunction with VMY 2014. These 13 major events will create excitement and provide value added activities for tourists to see and do while visiting Sarawak.” He added: “In preparation for VMY 2014, the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak will launch our very own Visit Sarawak Year campaign. This will prepare the State tourism industry on the anticipated influx of tourists. At the end of 2014, we hope to achieve increased arrivals and increased revenue for the tourism sector. We want to increase tourism contribution towards our Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP) growth to second place from third place currently.” Openg pointed out that the ministry is eyeing 4.2 million of tourist arrivals in 2014, a progressive increase from an estimated figure of 4.1 million in 2013.He revealed that there were four million of tourist arrivals in 2012. Out of the four million visitors, 2.63 million people were foreign visitors and 1.4 million people were domestic travellers. From the 2.63 million foreign tourist arrivals, 1.73 million were from Brunei, followed by 417,072 people from Indonesia, 113,174 people from The Philippines, 55,674 people from Singapore and 43,326 people from China. The top three biggest percentages increased of foreign arrivals into Sarawak last year were from the Middle East (87%); Thailand (78.3%) and Bangladesh (67.2%). Openg said, ““Sarawak has always been consistent in offering our unique selling point (USP) of culture, adventure and nature (CAN). We will still be offering those specialties and will target the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market sector apart from the overall leisure sector. The CAN selling points will be the pillars of attraction to all the market segments.” He also explained that for the leisur