KUCHING, May 25 : Sarawak’s tourism industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, where tourist footprint declined by 74 percent in 2019 to 2020 and worsens in 2020 to 2021 as arrivals declined further to 81 percent.
Several initiatives such as the Sia Sitok Sarawak and eight packages of Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS), were introduced to cushion the impact of COVID-19.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said these interventions are necessary which benefitted tour guides, park guides, licensed travel agents, tourist vehicle drivers and homestay operators.
“Throughout BKSS 1.0 to BKSS 8.0 the government has spent RM5.7 billion while tourism players have received major assistance through BKSS 3.0 to BKSS 6.0 involving a total expenditure of RM1.68 million.
“This was on top of the various assistance given by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC),” said Karim in delivering his ministerial winding-up speech during the 7th day of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
Meanwhile the Sia Sitok Sarawak campaigns have also received great support throughout its three instalments since its inception in 2021 as it generated more than RM6 million in sales value with a total of 2,269 tour packages purchased involving 15,642 travellers.
On the same development, the Business Events Planners Incentivised Packages (BEPIP) is also another scheme to provide business event planners with additional financial and in-kind support for business events hosted from 2020 to 2022.
“Since launching the BEPIP, Sarawak has seen evidence of good business retention with very low cancellations, secured and excellent development of homegrown events where about RM1.84 million has been granted.
“Following the reopening of the country’s border, the state will be reviving several iconic events to further expedite the recovery of the state tourism industry,” added Karim.
Events that making a comeback includes the Sarawak Spartan Race, the Rainforest World Music Festival, Borneo Jazz Festival, Kuching Marathon, Sarawak Regatta and more.
This year, the ministry have supported a total of 21 events and festival with a total allocation of RM6.5 million.-TVS
