KUCHING: Sarawak recorded a total of 400,531 tourists in January 2025, marking the highest number since 2019.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, stated that tourism receipts from this influx exceeded RM1 billion, amounting to RM1,025,391,859.
“This represents a 13.46 per cent increase compared to January 2024, when the number of tourists stood at 352,983.
“The total tourism receipts from these visitors in January alone surpassed RM1 billion within just one month.
“These earnings do not go directly to the ministry or government but instead benefit the local economy, including the hospitality industry, hotels, restaurants, and transportation sectors,” he said.
He said this during the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Integrity Day 2025 at Hilton Hotel here today (Feb13).
Since 2019, the number of tourist arrivals in Sarawak during January alone stood at 361,334, followed by a sharp drop to 72,000 in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, numbers remained lower at 319,064, before rising again to 352,982 in 2024.
According to Abdul Karim, one of the biggest contributors to this surge in tourism was the T20 Cricket World Cup, held in January.
He also credited the state tourism agencies, particularly the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), for successfully attracting more visitors through extensive promotional efforts.
“This achievement is the result of hard work from all parties, especially STB and the media, which have tirelessly promoted Sarawak on the global stage.
“Sarawak has become a preferred destination for tourists. We understand that visitors enjoy coming here because we prioritise safety, with no reports of snatch thefts or security threats, making them feel safe and appreciated.
“We have also been told that Sarawak is attracting visitors due to its clean environment and the abundance of attractive destinations to explore,” he added.
In addition, Abdul Karim expressed confidence that AirBorneo, a local airline, will further boost tourist arrivals in the state.
