KUCHING:  Sarawak’s tourism industry is projected to reach 90 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. 

Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that his ministry anticipates four million visitor arrivals to Sarawak this year.

"For the record, four million visitor arrivals are expected to generate an estimated RM10.19 billion in tourism revenue, contributing 7.25 per cent to Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"From January to April 2024, visitor arrivals to Sarawak increased by 25.46 per cent, rising from 1.3 million (1,288,036) in the same period in 2023 to 1.62 million (1,612,912).

"This generated an estimated RM4.17 billion, an increase of 27.43 per cent compared to RM3.27 billion in tourism receipts in 2023," he explained.

He made these remarks during his ministerial winding-up speech at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Session on Tuesday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim added that in 2023, Sarawak received 3.92 million visitors, marking a 93.82 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022, generating RM9.99 billion in tourism revenue.

In another development, he mentioned that participants in the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme increased by 22.90 per cent from 411 participants in 2022 to 542 participants in 2023.

He noted that in 2023, Fixed Deposit (FD) placements from S-MM2H participants amounted to RM56.7 million in local Sarawak banks.

"As of March 2024, 146 participants have been approved with FD placements totalling RM28.8 million in local Sarawak banks," he added. -UKASnews