MUMBAI: Sarawak is strengthening its position as a gateway destination to Borneo by focusing on the Indian market as a high-potential tourist source, in line with the national target ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has successfully kicked off its participation in the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2026, India’s leading tourism trade fair held at the Jio World Convention Centre here.

According to a statement by STB, Sarawak reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the Indian market which has been identified as a priority growth market to support Malaysia’s aspiration to welcome 43 million international visitors, including a target of two million arrivals from India under VM2026.

“With increasing market interest, including an eight per cent surge in demand from India, Sarawak is positioning itself to contribute meaningfully to national goals through sustainable, quality and high-value tourism growth.

“The Sarawak delegation was led by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah together with MTCP Deputy Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting, STB Chairman Dato Dennis Ngau and STB Chief Executive Officer Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor.

“The presence of this top leadership reflects Sarawak’s determination to strengthen high-level engagement with Indian tourism industry players, thus increasing long-term market confidence in Sarawak as a destination of choice,” it said on Thursday.

Highlighting Sarawak’s leadership role at the international level, Dato Sri Abdul Karim also delivered a speech as a panelist during the OTM 2026 Opening Session, which reflected Sarawak’s readiness to meet the growing demand for outbound tourism from India.

Meanwhile, Dr Sharzede was involved as an invited panelist in the OTM Forum titled ‘Beyond the Usual: Mapping Where Indian Travellers Will Go Next’, sharing views on the level of Sarawak’s destination readiness as well as product development strategies to meet the needs of the new wave of Indian tourists.

In OTM 2026, Sarawak is promoted as an experience-based destination by featuring key tourism pillars covering Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF).

Emphasis is placed on immersive experiences centered on nature and rich cultural heritage, in line with the Indian market trends.

Among the key attractions highlighted are the Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thus reinforcing Sarawak’s image as a world-class natural destination.

Before the official opening of OTM 2026, the Sarawak delegation led by Dato Sri Abdul Karim also paid a courtesy call on the Consulate General of Malaysia in Mumbai to meet with the Consul General of Malaysia, Ahmad Zuwairi Yusoff.

The visit continued with an academic collaboration mission to Somaiya Vidyavihar University with UCSI University Sarawak Campus to promote educational tourism which has been identified as a niche segment with high potential in the Indian market.

The collaboration aims to create academic benchmarks in the fields of hospitality, tourism and culinary arts through lecturer and student exchanges and joint research, thus supporting the development of talent and the long-term tourism ecosystem.

Overall, OTM 2026 serves as a strategic platform to increase Sarawak's visibility in the Indian market, strengthen tourism trade relations and solidify its position as Malaysia's nature-based gateway to Borneo. -UKASnews