KUCHING: As the world faces various challenges, Sarawak's tourism sector remains steady with the strength of domestic tourism continuing to support the industry's development.

Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, who is also the Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said that past experience has proven that Sarawak has a strong domestic tourism foundation, thus ensuring the industry continues to grow in any circumstances.

"We saw when we faced COVID-19 some time ago, even in an atmosphere where doors were closed and flights were not coming in, the tourism industry in Sarawak lived on with the programs we held such as the Sia Sitok programme and so on.

"We can't just be cooped up at home; those from Miri, Sibu, Bintulu they can come to Kuching and from Kuching, Sri Aman and so on can go to Miri, to Sibu because we have many tourism products," he said.

He said this when met by reporters during the Aidilfitri Ramah Tamah ceremony for both of his ministries at a hotel here on Sunday.

At the same time, Dato Sri Abdul Karim explained that current developments at the global level do not have a major impact on the state's tourism industry.

According to him, although there are factors such as the increase in certain costs that might have a slight effect on travel, it does not affect the tourism sector as a whole.

He added that there is still demand among the public to travel, thus ensuring the industry continues to move well.

In the meantime, he encouraged the public to adjust their holiday plans by focusing on destinations within the state as a more practical and economical choice. — UKASnews

Translator: Ryan Lim