Latest news with #RM12.73
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Ahmad Zahid: Sarawak on track for 5 mln tourist arrivals in 2025
Ahmad Zahid expresses his confidence in Sarawak, stating that the state's current performance has proven this. – File photo SARATOK (June 22): Sarawak is on track to achieve its target of five million tourist arrivals and generate RM12.73 billion in tourism revenue this year, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid expressed his confidence in Sarawak, stating that the state's current performance has proven this. 'In the first four months of this year alone, Sarawak received more than 1.6 million visitors, generating tourism revenue of RM4.07 billion. 'God willing, we are on the right track to achieve the target of five million tourist arrivals and RM12.73 billion in tourism revenue for 2025,' he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for Kampung Kupang-Jalan Bajau junction road project held at Rumah Rengan in Selambong here today. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Tourism and Culture (JKPK), said Sarawak has a rich culture, a variety of tourism products, and a unique heritage that can be the main driver for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (TMM 2026) Campaign. 'We have set a target of 35.6 million international visitors with a potential economic return of RM147.1 billion in conjunction with TMM 2026. 'So, this is where the important role of all of us is to take advantage of our political stability and close relationships to attract more visitors to Sarawak. 'As the JKPK chairman, I do not want Sarawak to be left behind,' he said. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the 19.9-kilometre road project will create new connectivity for at least 5,000 residents in the surrounding areas, especially Kampung Kupang. The project was approved under the Ministry Rural and Regional Development's (KKDW) Rural Road Programme (JALB) at a cost of RM122.5 million with Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) as the implementing agency. Work began on Jan 14 this year and it is expected to be fully completed on Sept 14, 2027. The scope of the project is to upgrade the existing road to a paved road in accordance with JKR standards and includes the construction of five bridges. 'After this, it will be more convenient for residents in Rumah Rabiah, Rumah Ganing, Rumah Rengan, Rumah Lakon, Rumah Anau, SK Sungai Entebu, SK Nanga Abu, Rumah Bajau Baru and other areas to commute to Saratok town. 'In addition to a more comfortable and safer route, it will cut short their travel time to Saratok town up to one hour thus helping to stimulate the socio-economic development of Saratok and its surroundings, as well as creating new job opportunities and industries.' Ahmad Zahid urged the selected contractors to adhere strictly to the schedule and specifications. 'Regular monitoring by the Sarawak JKR is also very important to ensure that the progress and quality of the work is always under control. 'This is because the people today do not just want the existence of infrastructure. They want quality infrastructure that is completed on time and provides comprehensive benefits,' he said. In line with these developments, Ahmad Zahid encouraged local residents to participate in entrepreneurial activities. 'Infrastructural developments such as roads not only connect villages to towns, but also open up opportunities for local economic growth. 'Therefore, I would like the community in this area to take advantage of these facilities by venturing into entrepreneurship, whether in the modern agriculture, handicrafts, e-commerce or community tourism sectors. 'Under KKDW, we have many initiatives to assist entrepreneurs such as the Rural Entrepreneurship Strengthening Support Program (SPKLB), Income Enhancement Programme (PPP), Rural Economy Financing Scheme (SPED) including entrepreneurship programs operated by agencies under KKDW such as Mara, Risda, Felcra and others. 'All these initiatives aim to provide access to rural residents to participate in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as one of the main strategies to eradicate extreme poverty and continuously generate new job opportunities in rural areas. 'When there are facilities, there is support and there is enthusiasm, rural entrepreneurship can be a way out of poverty,' he said. ahmad zahid hamidi lead tourism revenye tourist arrivals
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sarawak aims for 5 million visitors, RM12.7bil in tourism revenue
KUCHING: Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today expressed his confidence that Sarawak will achieve a target of five million visitor arrivals and to generate RM12.73 billion estimated tourism receipts for this year. He said the target can be achieved based on the visitor arrivals of 1.6 million recorded between January and April this year. "From January to April 2025 period, Sarawak continues to receive largenumber of visitors from Brunei (514,015) andIndonesia (236,054)," he said in his winding up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly here. China contributes 24,865 arrivals to Sarawak, Singapore 18,637 and the Philippines 14,482, he said. He said the visitor arrivals for the first four months of this year contributed to RM4.07 billion tourism receipts.
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Abd Karim: Sarawak on track for 5 mln visitors, RM12.73 bln tourism receipts in 2025
Abdul Karim shows the texts of his ministerial winding up speeches. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 27): Sarawak is on track to achieve its target of 5 million visitors, generating an estimated RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts for 2025, said Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He said that this is in view of the arrival of more than 1.6 million visitors recorded between January and April this year. 'Asean is our key tourism market, with Brunei Darussalam contributing the largest share of visitor arrivals, accounting for 1,891,314 visitors (39.1 per cent), followed by Indonesia with 653,883 visitors (13.5 per cent). 'Singapore and the Philippines contributed 1.2 per cent (59,793 visitors) and one per cent (46,853 visitors) respectively, while China has become a significant contributor with 1.5 per cent (74,721 visitors),' he said when delivering his ministerial winding up speech during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. Abdul Karim said from January to April 2025, Sarawak continued to receive a large number of visitors from Brunei Darussalam (514,015) and Indonesia (236,054). Additionally, China (24,865), Singapore (18,637) and The Philippines (14,482) remain among the top five contributors. Regarding tourism receipts, he said Sarawak achieved RM4.07 billion from January to April this year. 'In 2024, Sarawak's tourism receipts were RM12.45 billion compared to RM9.99 billion in 2023,' he said. Abdul Karim further highlighted that the major contributors to the state's gross domestic product (GDP) are the services sector, comprising of sub-sectors like tourism, utilities, transportation, information and communication, finance and insurance, real estate, and business service. 'In 2024, the services sector contributed RM58.21 billion or 39 per cent of the economy, compared to RM54.54 billion in 2023. 'Out of this, the tourism sector's contribution to the services sector was 21 per cent,' he said. 2025 Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lead target tourism receipts visitors
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sarawak on track to achieve five million visitors this year
KUCHING: Sarawak's tourism sector is on a robust growth trajectory when over 1.6 million visitors were already recorded within the first four months of this year, putting it on the right track to achieve its 2025 target of five million visitors, said State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He said the visitors' arrival to date had also given him the confidence that Sarawak could register RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts this year. 'Tourism receipts reached RM12.45 billion in 2024, up from RM9.99 billion in 2023. From January to April this year, we have already generated RM4.07 billion,' he said when winding up on behalf of the ministry at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly here today. According to him, Sarawak welcomed 4.83 million visitors last year, a 23 per cent increase compared to the previous year, and this exceeded 2019 pre-pandemic figures by 3.63 per cent. He said the majority of Sarawak's international tourists come from neighbouring ASEAN countries. Brunei Darussalam topped the list with 1.89 million visitors, followed by Indonesia (653,883), Singapore (59,793), and the Philippines (46,853). Meanwhile, Abdul Karim also told the august House that under the 12th Malaysia Plan, Sarawak has allocated RM382.57 million, supplemented by an additional RM136.44 million under Projek Rakyat and RM49.9 million in federal funds via the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to improve tourism infrastructure. He said the completed projects include conservation works on historic forts, ecotourism facilities at Santubong National Park, upgrades to the Melasak Waterfall Tourism Centre, and enhancements to the Sarawak Cultural Village. On the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme, he said it had seen growing interest since 2020 and as of this month, 3,141 applications have been approved since its inception in 2007. 'In 2024, 560 approvals under SMM2H brought in RM111.6 million in fixed deposits, while 265 approvals in early 2025 have added another RM65.3 million,' he said, adding that top participants for the programme hail from China, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States.
