KUCHING: The inaugural ASEAN Tourist Guides Conference will take place at the Imperial Hotel Kuching from October 24 to 26, 2024.
The conference, organised by the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association (SKTGA), carries the message ‘Togetherness in Tour Guiding Excellence’, focusing on a collaborative approach to enhance travel experience and ensuring a stronger future for tourist guide communities within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised the vital role that tourist guides play in tourism, connecting visitors with the culture and heritage of destinations.
"However, tourists now have greater access to information and online tourism services than before, which put pressure on the industry.
"Moreover, visitors are increasingly cost-conscious," he said in a press conference at Baitulmakmur II, on Thursday.
Dato Sri Abdul Karim added that tourism is part of the service industry, contributing 37 per cent to Sarawak's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023.
"We generated RM9.99 billion in tourism receipts last year, a growth of 101.41 per cent.
"Despite these impressive statistics, we must prioritise the protection and promotion of tourist guides and recognise the invaluable contributions and unique experiences they offer," he said.
Meanwhile, SKTGA Chairman Edwin Lim noted that as tourism services move towards digitalisation, certain aspects of the tourism industry will diminish.
"It's an urgent call to action that tourist guides must evolve with technology, emphasising the strength of the tourist guide community and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure continued progress in the face of changing technology and consumer preferences," he said.
The conference aims to host 400 representatives and is expected to generate an income of RM3.3 million for the economy.
The conference is supported by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), Malaysian Tourist Guides Council, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), and the Sarawak Tourism Federation. -UKASnews
