Sarawak aims for 85% pre-pandemic recovery: How achievable is this target?

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Sarawak's 85 Per Cent Pre-Pandemic Tourism Recovery Target: An Assessment

Sarawak's tourism sector is demonstrating a robust recovery, with early 2024 figures indicating a positive trajectory. In January 2024, the state welcomed 352,983 visitors, an increase of 10.63 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year. This growth translated into a 12.11 per cent rise in tourism receipts, reaching over RM907 million. For the entirety of 2024, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts forecasts an 85 per cent recovery from pre-pandemic levels, setting an ambitious target of four million visitors and RM10.19 billion in tourism receipts. This goal is supported by the momentum from the previous year, which saw visitor arrivals reach 3,929,657, a substantial 93.82 per cent increase over 2022, and tourism receipts jump by 101.41 per cent to RM9.99 billion. These figures in 2023 represented approximately 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels achieved in 2019.
Visitor Arrivals and Receipts Show Strong Growth

The state's tourism performance in 2023 exceeded expectations, with visitor arrivals of 3,929,657 marking a significant increase of 93.82 per cent from the previous year. This surge brought the numbers to about 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Correspondingly, tourism receipts experienced a dramatic rise, more than doubling to RM9.99 billion in 2023, a 101.41 per cent increase from RM4.96 billion in 2022. The initial figures for January 2024 continue this positive trend, with a 10.63 per cent increase in visitor arrivals and a 12.11 per cent rise in tourism receipts compared to January 2023, signalling sustained momentum.
Business Events Contribute Significantly to Economic Impact

Beyond general tourism, the Business Events Sarawak initiative played a crucial role in the state's economic recovery. In the past year, 95 out of 100 targeted events were secured, generating a total economic impact of RM346.5 million. This included RM183.3 million in delegate expenditure and RM20.7 million in taxes, while creating 27,502 job opportunities. For the current year, the targets for business events remain substantial, aiming for a RM336.2 million total economic impact, RM182.7 million in delegate expenditure, and RM20.1 million in taxes, with a projected creation of 26,684 job opportunities.
Upcoming Conventions to Boost Visitor Numbers

Specific events are anticipated to further bolster visitor arrivals. The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak (ACCCIS) is organising tourism packages for the '17th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention' in September. This event is expected to attract over 300 international visitors, who will have the opportunity to explore destinations including Kuching, Miri, and Bintulu. The ministry has pledged its support to ACCCIS to ensure the success of these packages and to maximise the opportunities presented by the convention.
Alignment with Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy

The tourism sector's recovery efforts are aligned with Sarawak's broader economic aspirations, specifically the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030. The synergy between the private sector, exemplified by ACCCIS's support for tourism initiatives like the short video contest, and public sector agencies is seen as a model for achieving shared goals. This collaborative approach aims to drive economic prosperity for Sarawak, with tourism identified as a key sector for growth and job creation.

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Sarawak aims for 85% pre-pandemic recovery: How achievable is this target?

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