BAU: Sarawak remains the most popular destination among domestic travellers with 22 per cent of them visiting the state last year.
Next is Kuala Lumpur with 18 per cent, followed by Pahang and Johor with 16 per cent, said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit.
The Mambong MP expressed confidence that the state would register more tourist arrivals if more destinations are developed and promoted.
“If more destinations are developed and promoted, there will be more tourist arrivals to the state,” he said.
Dawos said this during an open house to mark the closing of Gawai, known as Rami Kuob Gawea 2012, at Siniawan Recreational Hall here on Sunday.
The event was jointly organised by Special Affairs Department (Jasa), Mambong parliamentary office, Bengoh Service Centre and the village security and development committees (JKKK) of Kampung Peninjau Baru and Siniawan Bazaar.
During his speech, Dawos pointed out that the tourism industry was the second largest contributor to the country’s economy, contributing about RM83 billion.
“Last year, the arrival of foreign tourists to the country had contributed revenue of RM58.3 billion while domestic tourists contributed RM25 billion,” he said.
On the future of the tourism industry, Dawos said by 2020, the industry is expected to contribute RM168 billion to the country’s economy, which is achievable through new tourism products and intensive promotion.
“The Tourism Ministry is working very hard in order for us to realise these numbers. As a responsible government, this is what we do to increase the people’s income because with the increasing number of tourists’ arrivals, the people will benefit economically,” he added.
Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sarawak top destination for domestic tourists
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