Sarawak had achieved a total of 4.08 million visitors as of 15 November 2024.

I was pleased to announce at the recent State's Legislative Assembly sitting that Sarawak has reached its target of four million visitors for the year 2024 and the achievement was a month ahead of schedule. The total number of visitors achieved was 4.08 million visitors as of November 15. 

The achievement was the positive result of the various international and national-level tourism events, conventions, conferences and meetings which were organised on our shores this year and hence, resulting in the sharp growth of visitors' arrival. With Sarawak's tourism sector anticipating full recovery by 2025, our Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) had aimed to achieve five million visitors in 2025 and also generating an expected RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts.

The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) was also targeting India and the Middle East as new markets due to their growing population of travellers with higher spending power and diverse interests. For instance, Sarawak would benefit from India's booming outbound tourism market driven by young, digitally-savvy travellers interested in niche tourism sectors. Consequently, Sarawak Tourism Board had engaged with 64 prominent film producers from South Indian Film Producers Association to attract them to choose Sarawak as their next preferred filming destination.

As a result of Sarawak Tourism Board's promotion initiatives, visitors from the new markets segment had grown by 75.3% this year. Similarly, other regional markets have also recorded positive growth, with Europe sector had increased by 12 percent, North Asia by 58.6 percent, ASEAN region by 44.6 percent and the domestic market expanded by 3.9 percent.

On another matter, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts will be working with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on gazetting the "Three Sisters Waterfall" located in Baram District in Northern part of our state as a nature reserve.

It was suggested for the local communities in the said area to be engaged on the proposal and it would pave the way for the waterfall to be developed into an ecotourism attraction especially in Miri division. As such, it was suggested for setting up a community-based development committee to be coordinated by the divisional tourism task group of the Miri Resident's Office. The Three Sisters Waterfall should be gazetted as a new nature park or reserve because of its unique beauty, with three distinct falls flowing into a majestic pool.