KUCHING (Nov 19): Sarawak has hit its target of four million tourist arrivals for 2024, said Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said on Nov 15, the state had recorded a total of 4.08 million visitors.

“The various international events and national level tourism events, conventions, conferences and meetings had resulted in this sharp growth,” he told the august House at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here.

In delivering his ministerial winding-up speech, Abdul Karim also shared that Sarawak had recorded 3.98 million visitors from Jan to Oct this year.

“This is an increase of 25.03 per cent when compared to the same period in 2023 which recorded 3.18 million.

“This has also generated an estimated RM10.27 billion, which is an increase of 27.26 per cent as compared to RM8.07 billion in tourism receipts in 2023,” he said.

Following this achievement, Abdul Karim said Sarawak’s tourism sector is expected to make a full recovery by 2025.

“Thus, my ministry will strive to achieve 5 million visitors in 2025, as announced by our Premier during the State Budget 2025 speech, generating RM12.73 billion in tourism receipts.

“The tourism sector growth so far is in line with most of the goals outlined in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030,” he said.

On tourist arrivals in Malaysia, he said the country received a total of 18.4 million tourists from all over the world from January to September this year, an increase of 27 per cent compared to 2023.

“However, looking ahead to Visit Malaysia 2026, Malaysia envisions welcoming 35.6 million visitors and generating target receipts of RM147.1 billion,” he said.