KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has pledged to develop the state into positioning towards a world-leading ecotourism destination next year.
Its chief executive officer (CEO) Sharzede Salleh Askor said the industry is currently undergoing a recovery stage to prepare for 2023 which is in line with the third phase of the Sarawak Tourism Master Plan 2021-2035.
As such, more green activities and premier ecotourism packages are needed to draw attention to the state’s abundant CANFF (Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festival) offerings.
The board will be working closely with its stakeholders to empower the industry’s endeavours, including the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) and its Community Based Tourism (CBT) initiatives.
She said the iconic music festival, RWMF 2023, is set to be organised completely physical.
“It will be a zero-waste music festival by implementing sustainable practices like banning single-use plastic and up-cycling used materials.
“We have also been actively championing our CBT initiatives by engaging with licensed and registered longhouses in rural areas.
“Additionally, for 2023, with Sarawak’s waterfall attractions becoming a trending tourism hotspot, we are working very closely with our stakeholders to develop them to be more accessible and family-friendly,” she said, in her welcoming remarks at the STB Media Night yesterday (Dec 22).
On a similar note, she said Sarawak’s pride, the 65,000-year-old Niah National Park, is in the final stages of nomination process to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Sharzede asserted that the media fraternity is a powerful tool of communication that could bring impact, spark curiosity, and keep the world updated on the latest news of Sarawak tourism.
The media is indirectly building confidence among the board’s stakeholders and industry players while attracting investors to Sarawak, she added.
“Together, let us welcome more travellers to an all immersive CANFF experience in Sarawak.
“With many more in store for the tourism sector next year, we hope for continuous strategic collaborations with all of you in the near future to share the great stories of Sarawak with the world.
“We regard the media as an important partner in increasing Sarawak’s visibility to the world,” she said.
Sarawak has recorded RM3.87 billion in tourism receipts from January to November this year, compared to RM537.17 million last year
It witnessed more than 1.6 million visitor arrivals this year, an increase of over 900 per cent, compared to the same period last year.