Kuching to host Digital Tourism Forum 2018

March 2, 2018

KUCHING: Kuching has been chosen as the venue for the Digital Tourism Forum 2018 on March 9.

According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, several Asean countries and China would participate in the forum, which is organised by the Association of Chinese-Asean Entrepreneurs (ACEA), with the support of the ministry and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) as a strategic partner.

“The main purpose of the forum is to highlight Sarawak as a tourist destination to our friends in Asean.

“It will be attended by delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand as well as those from Australia and China,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Abdul Karim also said the Asean countries participating in the forum are rapidly developing, and whose population is economically strong and had more purchasing power.

At the forum, tourism industry players will be able to share their views with each other.

“We invite them to give some news or stories from their countries, which is like a friendly partnership between all parties. When we promote Sarawak’s products or destinations, we strengthen our relationships through the tourism industry,” he said.

Abdul Karim said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would declare open the forum.

Meanwhile, the delegates will start to arrive here on March 7, two days before the forum begins.

They are expected to visit Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, the chief minister as well as visit the Digital Economy Hub here.

The forum will be attended by ambassadors or representatives of the respective countries who will share their views on the topic ‘How the Digital Age Enhances and Impacts the Asean Tourism Industry: Promoting and Interacting across Asean, the World and Malaysia’.

ACEA vice president Michael Liong and principal assistant secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Desmond Douglas Jerukan were also present at the press conference. -TheBorneoPost