KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is committed to strengthening the state’s tourism industry through an inclusive approach, bringing together all industry players to thoroughly review planning, challenges and improvements in the sector.

Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said these efforts are being implemented through the Sarawak Tourism Steering Committee Meeting involving ministries, government agencies, representatives of Divisional Residents, and relevant industry players.

According to him, the meeting serves as a vital platform for discussing the state tourism industry’s direction, including identifying issues and obtaining direct feedback from industry stakeholders.

“The tourism industry has a broad scope and involves various sectors. Therefore, we are outlining the plans for this year and reviewing the challenges faced, as well as listening to views from the industry players themselves,” he said.

He said this during a press conference following the meeting, here on Friday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim stressed that the state government is always open to receiving constructive feedback and suggestions to further improve existing systems.

Among the issues raised were waste management in national parks and aspects of grant distribution to event organisers, which could be refined to enhance effectiveness.

“Although these matters may be small, we truly value the feedback provided as it helps us address our weaknesses,” he added.

Commenting on current performance, Dato Sri Abdul Karim said that Sarawak’s tourism industry is currently at an encouraging level, with significant growth recorded each year.

He is optimistic that this momentum will continue to be strengthened through close cooperation between the government and industry players to ensure Sarawak remains a premier tourism destination in the region.

Meanwhile, the launch of the Sarawak Creative Industry Directory 1.0, which was also held, marks another significant milestone in the Sarawak government’s efforts to empower and strengthen the development of the creative industry in a more systematic and competitive manner. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Ezzah Syafiqah
Translator: Sarah Nicole Hii
Photo by: Ibanez Jeffery