Rainforest in The City not to be missed — Abdul Karim

July 04, 2019

Abdul Karim (fourth left) and Snowdan (third left) hold up the LED Light Balls at the launch while others give the thumbs up. 

KUCHING: The public are urged not to miss Rainforest in The City (RITC) 2019 at Kuching Amphitheatre, Jalan Taman Budaya here.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said RITC, which offers a variety of exciting performances, is a ‘warm-up’ event before the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).

He said various interesting events such as cultural performances, music, nature and food of ethnic Sarawakians as well as hi-tech lighting arrangements are in store for visitors.

Pakej istimewa untuk saksikan tiga festival muzik Sarawak

April 06, 2019

JOM SERTAI KAMI: Abdul Karim (empat kiri) ditemani (dari tiga kiri) Abdul Wahab dan Sharzede serta tetamu kehormat lain memperkenalkan Tiga Festival Satu Destinasi Sarawak.

KUCHING: Sarawak menjadi destinasi penganjuran tiga festival muzik antarabangsa yang akan berlangsung pada Julai tahun ini dengan menawarkan pakej dan harga tiket istimewa.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, ia buat julung kalinya tawaran kepada pencinta muzik di seluruh dunia.

Tiga festival antarabangsa itu, Festival Muzik Hutan Hujan Dunia (RWMF2019) Ke-22, Festival ‘Borneo Jazz Music 2019 Ke-14 dan Rainforest Fringe Festival.

Taxis to display Visit Sarawak Campaign stickers

February 21, 2019

Abdul Karim giving the thumbs up alongside Sharzede (second left) and Abdul Wahab (left) after placing the VSC car sticker on a taxi to symbolically officiate the launch.

KUCHING: More than 2,000 car stickers will be distributed to taxis throughout Sarawak in conjunction with the Visit Sarawak Campaign (VSC).

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the taxi drivers will be displaying the stickers on their vehicles as part of Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) efforts to promote the state.

“The car stickers will be distributed to taxi drivers not only in Kuching but also in Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and so on.

Taxis parade Visit Sarawak Campaign stickers to promote tourism

February 20, 2019

Abdul Karim puts the finishing touches on a taxi’s Visit Sarawak Campaign sticker at the launch.

KUCHING: More than 2,000 car stickers and decals will be distributed to taxis throughout Sarawak in line with the Visit Sarawak Campaign (VSC).

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the taxis will be displaying the stickers on their vehicles as part of Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) efforts to promote the state.

“The distribution of the car stickers will involve taxi drivers not only in Kuching but also in Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and so on.

‘Federal government still owes Sarawak RM2.7 million in tourism tax’

January 5, 2019

Abdul Karim promotes the awards with (from right) Hii, Lee, Abdul Wahab and Audry.

KUCHING: The federal government still owes Sarawak around RM2.7 million in tourism tax.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah disclosed this during a press conference for the Sarawak Tourism Awards 2017/2018 on Thursday.

“At the State Assembly sitting last November, I also mentioned that we had not received the payment of tourism tax revenue from the federal government.

Sarawak owed RM2.7 mln of tourism tax revenue

January 4, 2019

Karim with (from right) Hii, Lee, Wahab and Audry during the press conference.

KUCHING: Sarawak has yet to receive revenue from tourism taxes amounting to around RMRM2.7 million from the federal government.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a press conference after the launching of the Sarawak Tourism Awards 2017/2018 at the Old Court building on Thursday evening (Jan 3).

“At the State Assembly sitting last November, I have also mentioned that we have not received the payment of the tourism tax revenue from the federal government. I do not know what is the reason behind it but we will continue to push for it,” he said.

SHTA highlights relevancy of Visit Sarawak 2019 campaign

 January 4, 2019

Abdul Karim signs the board that bears the SHTA 2019 logo to mark the launch. Seen behind him is Lee, while Hii stands at right. In the background are (from right) Abdul Aziz and Audry. 

KUCHING: The hosting of the Eighth Sarawak Hornbill Tourism Awards (SHTA) is regarded as being the most relevant to the Visit Sarawak 2019 campaign, when it comes to further establishing Sarawak on the world’s tourism map.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the organisation of the awards programme would serve not only to motivate the winners, but also to motivate others in the local tourism industry.

“This is the eighth time that we are organising this bi-annual event and I am pleased to announce that this year’s theme is ‘On Fire for Sarawak’.

Five million target set for 2019

October 18, 2018

(From left) Tourism Malaysia International Promotion Division (Asia/Africa) senior director Datuk Musa Yusuf, Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Abdul Karim, Sharzede, STB chairman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz, STB deputy chairman Hii Chang Kee and Tourism Malaysia Domestic and Events senior director Datuk Dr Ammar Ghapar flanked by traditional dancers at the launch.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is targeting the arrival of five million tourists in 2019 following the launch of the Visit Sarawak logo.

State Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the estimate is the same as in 2017.

“Last year, we targeted five million as well but we achieved 4.85 million tourists visiting Sarawak.

Mandarin-speaking tour guides mulled for Chinese tourists

March 21, 2018

Abdul Karim (seated third right) addresses the press conference after the meeting. Also seen seated from left are Abang Abdul Wahap, Abdul Wahab,Hii,and Snowdan.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is looking at temporary tour guides with Mandarin proficiency to accommodate the growing number of visitors from China.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this was brought about by the about 20,000 air passengers, mostly from China, who came here in the first three months since the inaugural Kuching-Shenzhen flight at end of December last year.

“The ministry is seriously looking into this issue and is hoping to address it with contingency plan or else it would have an impact on our Chinese guests,” he told a press conference after chairing the Sarawak Tourism Steering Committee meeting here yesterday.

‘Support vital in making RWMF a success’

July 7, 2017

Abdul Karim (third left) presents an appreciation certificate to a sponsor’s representative while (from right) Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, and STB chairman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz look on.

(From left) Abdul Wahab, Snowdan, Lee and Abdul Karim at the dinner.

KUCHING: Festival organisers from Korea, Taiwan and Cuba who will join the Rainforest World Music Festival this year are eager to partner with tourism ministry to organise future festivals.

“The festival has come a long way from a mere 300 attendants for the inaugural event in 1998, to a crowd of over 18,000 people last year,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at a sponsors’ appreciation dinner here Wednesday.

He said as the festival was continuing to grow in size, the support becomes indispensable and essential in making the festival more successful, providing a benchmark of similar international festivals in the region.

Zurich signs on as CSR partner of RWMF 2017

June 15, 2017

Abdul Karim (third left) thanking Smith (second right) during the ceremony as STB chairman Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz (second left), STB acting CEO Mary Wan Mering (left) and STB events director Angelina Patricia Bateman look on yesterday.

KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has announced that Zurich Insurance Malaysia Bhd (ZIMB) and Zurich Takaful Malaysia Bhd (ZTMB) have become a corporate social responsibility (CSR) partner with the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2017.

In a mock cheque handing over ceremony between ZIMB chief executive officer Philip Smith and Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday, it was stated that Zurich Malaysia is sponsoring a total of RM200,000 to RWMF 2017.

The RWMF has taken new steps this year, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary, to promote health and wellness through physical activities and meditation.

AirAsia’s Kuching-Pontianak flight boosts state’s tourism — Abdul Karim

June 6, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) and Lee (on Karim’s left) placing scarves with ethnic motifs on passengers to welcome them upon their arrival at KIA on board the inaugural AirAsia flight from Pontianak to Kuching. Also seen are Muhammad (left) and Aireen (second left).

KUCHING: AirAsia celebrated its inaugural flight from Pontianak, Indonesia to Kuching with the arrival of its plane at Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 1.50pm yesterday.

The plane was greeted with a ceremonial two-hose ‘water salute’ while taxiing into the parking apron and as passengers disembarked, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah alongside Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin and AirAsia Berhad chief executive officer Aireen Omar were on hand to welcome and present them with ethnic motif scarves as well as goodie bags.

Abdul Karim described the direct flight as another milestone in the development of tourism in Sarawak as connectivity served as one of the state government’s prime areas of concern in the industry circle.

KIA reaching its full capacity — AirAsia CEO

June 6, 2017

Aireen (left) speaking during the press conference. Also with her are (from second left) Abdul Karim, Lee and Abdul Wahab.

KUCHING: The Kuching International Airport (KIA) has almost reached its capacity of five million passengers per year.

This was disclosed by AirAsia Berhad chief executive officer Aireen Omar who proposed that the international airport here be expanded to bring in more connectivity to the state.

“I think the current airport facility (KIA) is reaching its full capacity already because last year it has reached almost five million passengers and the capacity of this international airport is five million per annum.

“So I think we need to start looking at how to expand the airport now in order for us to realise our plans in bringing more connectivity,” she told a press conference after joining Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in welcoming passengers from the inaugural AirAsia flight from Pontianak, Indonesia to Kuching at KIA yesterday.

Aireen was responding to a question on whether AirAsia’s plans to have a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in the state was still in the pipeline.