BY JACK WONG IN KUCHING
SARAWAK State Economic Development Corp's (SEDC) investments in the tourism and leisure sector contributed a pre-tax profit of RM10.79mil last year, a jump of more than 40% from RM7.39mil in 2003.
Total revenue from the sector increased to RM93.6mil from RM82.8mil.
Sarawak SEDC chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the corporation had investments in 16 tourism-related projects, including hotels and resorts, a golf course, shopping complexes and tourist centres.
He said the top contributors were subsidiaries Sejadu Sdn Bhd (which owns Crowne Plaze Riverside Hotel and Riverside Shopping Complex), Kuching Hotels Sdn Bhd (which owns Holiday Inn Kuching and Sarawak Plaza) and Sara Resorts Sdn Bhd (owner of Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach and Sarawak Cultural Village).
These three companies achieved a combined pre-tax profit of RM8.9mil last year.
“Last year, the Sarawak SEDC paid out over RM1mil in dividends while internally funded the refurbishment of its hotels in Kuching and Damai for RM9.75mil,” Talib said in a statement.
Besides the hotels' upgrading, SEDC undertook several new projects last year.
These included a Ledang Spa at the hilltop wing of the Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach and the development of the Plaza Walk at Sarawak Plaza to cater for international franchises – the Coffee Bean, Kenny Rogers and Roadside Grill outlets. The Santubong mountain trek was also upgraded.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Talib said SEDC had planned for several new development projects in Damai peninsula, where its two beach hotels, Sarawak Cultural Village and golf course are located, in line with efforts to reposition it as a premier tourist destination.
On the drawing board is a resort village bazaar to serve as a centre for commercial activities and a system trails and walkways to link the various tourism properties that will take visitors through the beaches, jungles and mountain streams.
Courtesy of The Star
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