Promising growth in Sarawak's tourism industry which is expected to prosper throughout 2024

We are delighted with the promising growth of Sarawak's tourism industry that is expected to continue prosper throughout this year as both local and foreign visitors' arrival is on the upside. Our local touris industry is expected to reach around 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels, in line with United Nations Tourism Organisation (UNTO) World Tourism Barometer prediction of 85 per cent recovery rate in 2023.

Our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts (MTCP) had projected for Sarawak to have 4 million visitor arrivals this year, bringing in an estimated RM10.19 billion in tourism revenue and contributing 7.25 per cent to our gross domestic product (GDP). 

I have mentioned these matters in my winding up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) and we have received a total of 3.92 million visitors last year, which was an increase of 93.82 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. This had also generated RM9.99 billion in tourism revenue, an increase of 101.41 per cent which contributed about 7.11 per cent to Sarawak’s GDP.

Sarawak's visitor arrivals accounted for about 20 per cent of Malaysia’s total in 2023. Our visitor arrivals from January to April this year had shown an increase of 25.46 per cent jumped from 1.3 million when compared to the same corresponding period in 2023 to 1.62 million. The visitors' arrivals for the January-April 2024 alone had generated an estimated RM4.17 billion, an increase of 27.43 per cent as compared to same period of 2023 with RM3.27 billion in tourism receipts.