Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sarawak registered 2.9 million tourist arrivals in first nine months


KUCHING: Sarawak registered 2.9 million tourist arrivals as of September this year, and the figure is likely to soar following the launch of 1Malaysia Year End Sale (1MYES).

Deputy Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said of the total arrivals, one million were domestic travellers.

“A total of 1.9 million foreign tourists came to Sarawak as of September this year. The majority of them are from neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei,” he said when launching the 1MYES packages at Kuching Sentral here yesterday.

Designed to encourage Malaysians to take their holidays in the country, 1MYES packages will also be promoted in Indonesia and Brunei markets with a target of sales revenue amounting to RM1 million.

Among the packages on offer are 4D3N Discovery Sarawak, 3D2N Kota Kinabalu Experience, 2D1N A Famosa Resort Melaka, 2D1N Legoland Fun Package and 3D2N Seri Pacific Family Escapage.

The six appointed travel agencies to promote them are Insight Tours Sdn Bhd, Go Travel Holiday Sdn Bhd, Borneo Exploration Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd, TH Travel and Services Sdn Bhd, Richland Adventure Sdn Bhd and Natol Holidays and Tours Sdn Bhd.

Recalling a recent trip to Europe, Dawos said travel agents there gladly told him that they loved coming to Sarawak.

“But they have one complaint, that Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flights to some European cities. I then said, ‘Never mind. You can fly to Singapore and then come to Sarawak.’

“They prefer nature-based tourism and our rich culture is also what appeals to them. Having 28 ethnic groups in the state also means that we have 28 kinds of culture to show the world.”

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