KUCHING: Sarawak is close to achieving its target of five million visitor arrivals for 2025 when it recorded 4.97 million visitors, the highest achievement ever recorded to date.

Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts as well as Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the total number of visitor arrivals up to 31 December 2025 was 4,971,197 people, about 28,800 visitors less than the original target of five million.

“We may not be able to achieve the five million target that was set, but when it comes to tourism revenue for last year, that is also the highest achievement we have ever achieved.

“Last year alone, from January to December, tourism revenue was RM12,672,154,246 billion, which is a huge amount,” he said.

He said this to the media after attending the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) and YONEX-SUNRISE Agreement Signing Ceremony at the Waterfront Hotel, Kuching on Thursday.

According to Dato Sri Abdul Karim, the achievement has provided a flood of benefits to the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants, guesthouses and homestays which continue to enjoy an increase in tourist arrivals, thus boosting the local economy.

He said that Sarawak’s tourism industry is seen to be on a strong track as revenue growth not only benefits industry players, but also contributes to government revenue through tax collection.

Touching on 2026’s target, Dato Sri Abdul Karim expected Sarawak to potentially reach or exceed the five million visitor target by 2026, following the continuous increase in visitor arrivals over the past few years.

He also added that Brunei Darussalam remained the largest contributor to visitor arrivals to Sarawak, followed by Indonesia, in line with the improving air and land connections between Sarawak and the neighbouring country. - UKASnews

Reporter: Nur Nabilla
Translator: Ryan Lim
Photographer: Ibanez Jeffery Guang