SARAWAK is working with various authorities to help make airfares to the Bornean state more cost-competitive so it can boost tourism, trade and travel as a whole.
Sarawak Tourism Board chairman Datuk Dennis Ngau told a press conference at Queensbay Mall in Penang that the state through its Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg is looking at various options to make air fares more competitive.
Airfares have been cited as a sore point in wooing visitors to Sarawak and this is an element which the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is trying to address promptly.
Ngau said this after opening the "Sarawak Gateway to Borneo Fair" at the mall here.
Present were Tourism Malaysia northern region director Shahrul Aman Sabir Ahmad, STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor, Audry Wan Ullok, Penang chapter of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents chairman Carolyn Leong.
Ngau said that Sarawak is suitable as a gateway to Borneo as it has access to neighbouring Brunei and Sabah, as well as Indonesia's Kalimantan where its new capital of Nusantara, is being actively built.
It makes Borneo, one of the most vibrant island enclaves in the region, especially with Malaysia taking over the chairmanship of the regional grouping of ASEAN next year.
Sarawak is part of the world's third-largest island, Borneo - an exotic paradise where ancient rainforests stand side by side with towering mountains and vibrant coral reefs.
“At the core of our tourism offerings is a unique combination: Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals (CANFF),” Ngau said.
The campaign to woo tourists is also enhanced since Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is from the state.
Ngau said the gateway campaign offers a chance for trade visitors and tourists to engage with Sarawak’s top entrepreneurs, taste their food, and feel their nature and culture.
"Sarawak is ready. We are ready to welcome the world, showcase our wonders, and build a future where Sarawak stands as a premier gateway to Borneo - a destination that
captivates with its cultural richness, its natural beauty, and its innovations."
Ngau also said that Sarawak will incorporate the findings from its tourism survey where tourists had indicated that they preferred local delicacies, culture and nature.
For this year, Ngau said that Sarawak is confident of attaining its tourism arrivals target of four million while its highest was 4.6 million achieved in 2019.
As of August this year, the state has already recorded 3.3 million arrivals while last year, it was 3.9 million.
Ngau also said that the state will work with other states to foster better ties in tourism. - October 12, 2024.
