KUCHING: Sarawak continues to strengthen its position as a regional tourism hub as the host of the 3rd Southeast Asia Tour Guide Conference 2026 from 13 to 15 October held at Kingwood Hotel, Sibu.

The conference is expected to bring together about 1,000 delegates from all over Southeast Asia, thus serving as a strategic platform in strengthening the professional standards of tour guides and driving the development of a high-quality tourism industry in the ASEAN region.

The programme is organised by the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association in collaboration with the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council and supported by Business Events Sarawak.

The organisation of this edition follows the success of the inaugural conference in Kuching in 2024 and is carried out in line with the aspirations of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, in addition to serving as a platform to address industry challenges and strengthen cooperation networks among frontline players in the tourism sector.

Under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, Sarawak is targeting a growth in visitor arrivals of 7.5 per cent per annum by 2030 with an emphasis on quality and sustainable tourism experiences.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said Sarawak targeted five million visitors by 2026, while still prioritising the quality of the experience.

According to him, to ensure that the growth of the tourism sector continues to be sustainable, tour guides need to be given comprehensive support, equipped with relevant skills and prepared to face the demands of the future.

“First, with the support of Business Events Sarawak, we are developing the capacity of tour guides through organising this conference as a platform for learning, collaboration and exchange of ideas at the regional level.

“Second, we are also allocating funds to train new tour guides including registered regional tour guides and Sarawak park guides, thus strengthening the talent pipeline in the industry,” he said in a press conference on Friday.

He added that the strategic move reflects Sarawak’s legacy-based approach to organising conferences with an emphasis on long-term impact on the development of the state’s tourism industry.

He said the choice of Sibu as the venue also reflects efforts to expand inclusive tourism development, while also distributing economic benefits to the entire state.

“As part of the enrichment, delegates will participate in external learning programmes including cultural exchanges that provide direct exposure to community-based tourism.

“The initiative aims to enhance the understanding of local and international tour guides on their role in preserving cultural identity and delivering authentic experiences to visitors,” he added.

The conference is expected to be a catalyst for talent development, increased professionalism and strengthening Sarawak's position as a hub for high-impact business events in Malaysia and the Borneo region. -UKASnews