Tourism
From The Report: Sarawak 2015
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Slightly more off the beaten path than South-east Asia’s mainstream holiday destinations, Sarawak has plenty to offer those seeking a slightly less conventional travel experience. The state is positioning itself as a culture, adventure and nature destination and also looks to increase its share of the globally lucrative meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions market as organisers and planners pursue more unique and exotic locales to stage their events. While shortcomings in connectivity remain an obstacle to growth, the government has never pursued uncontained growth, as turning the state into a mass-market tourism destination would erode the natural attractions that appeal to visitors in the first place. Tourism has thus been identified as a vehicle to be prioritised for the contribution it can make toward a more inclusive model of economic growth.

This chapter contains interviews with Mike Cannon, Managing Director, Sarawak Convention Bureau; and Charlene Chan, Manager, Citadines Uplands Kuching. 

 

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Sarawak’s tourism strategy focuses on sustainable development
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Slightly more off the beaten path than South-east Asia’s mainstream holiday destinations, Sarawak has plenty to offer those seeking a slightly less conventional travel experience. With its lush rainforests, plentiful wildlife and diverse patchwork of ethnic groups, the state is positioning itself as a culture, adventure and nature (CAN) destination. It has successfully managed to leverage this proposition to grow not only the leisure segment, but also increase its share of the globally lucrative…

Analysis

Birds suddenly appear: Sarawak’s biodiversity has made it an ideal location for ecotourism
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Sarawak possesses some of the richest biodiversity in the world, turning the state into an ideal location for ecotourism projects. However, a range of factors, including shortcomings in infrastructure and a lack of coordination, means that the full potential of ecotourism in the state has not yet been tapped. By spreading visitors into more isolated parts of the hinterland, revenues generated by ecotourism could help uplift impoverished communities, while providing visitors with an immersive…

Interview

OBG talks to Mike Cannon, Managing Director, Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB)
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Interview:Mike Cannon What is being done to improve Sarawak’s global standing as a destination for conventions? MIKE CANNON: Since the establishment of the SCB in 2006, the business events industry in Sarawak has shown tremendous growth. This has contributed to opportunities for education, research, export trade, foreign exchange and corporate social responsibility (CSR) through the conferences that have have been held in the state. As active members of the International Congress and Convention…

Interview

OBG talks to Charlene Chan, Manager, Citadines Uplands Kuching
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Interview:Charlene Chan What factors are driving major international players in the hospitality segment to invest in Sarawak? CHARLENE CHAN: Sarawak’s tourism sector has experienced moderate growth over the past few years, with increases in tourist arrivals, occupancy rates and average room rates. In 2015 foreign and domestic tourist arrivals into Sarawak are expected to exceed the 4.3m visitors recorded in 2014, which bodes well for the future of Kuching’s hotel industry. Indeed, state…

Analysis

Sarawak a major destination for meetings and conferences
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Since its establishment in 2006, the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) has put the state on the international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) map. As a result, in 2013 Malaysia came eighth in the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA’s) rankings for countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Having played host to 117 ICCA-certified conferences that year, it trailed only Singapore (with 175 events) and Thailand (with 136 events) within ASEAN.…