Be ‘one big family’ in embracing new programmes, initiatives, minister advises tourism players
KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants all tourism players and partners to come forward together as ‘one big tourism family’ and embrace the new programmes and initiatives introduced amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, the pandemic is a perfect opportunity for industry players to rethink tourism in Sarawak and thus, he is confident that the measures put in place by the state government would shape the ‘tourism of tomorrow’ and also Sarawak.
“As custodians of Sarawak tourism, we are continuously strategising and re-strategising to prepare and ensure comprehensive tourism recovery plans.
“We are doing all we can to improve and rebuild destinations, to encourage innovation, and re-think the tourism sector, while facing challenges during this pandemic,” he said at the ‘Sarawak Ambassadors Programme’ certificate presentation on e-learning for e-hailing drivers at a hotel here yesterday.
The minister congratulated the e-hailing drivers for completing the tourism module on e-learning, adding that he looked forward to seeing all of them become ‘Sarawak Ambassadors’.
He acknowledged that the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic
had been felt throughout the tourism ecosystem in the entire world.
He hoped that as Sarawak would move to this ‘recovery’ phase, businesses would be up and running – ‘slowly but surely’.
He believed that with every challenge and struggle that the people were currently facing, there was ‘always light at the end of the tunnel’.
“At the ministry, we have taken several measures to implement stringent standard operating procedures (SOP) and the new
norms in travelling are being put in place.
“We are also collaborating with industry players to devise plans to help sustain tourism businesses in Sarawak.”
Aside from giving away certificates to the e-hailing drivers, Abdul Karim also witnessed two signing ceremonies – one between Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sarawak Chapter; and the other between the MAH Sarawak Chapter and Core Systems Technologies.
The memorandum-ofunderstanding (MoU) signing signified the collaboration with MAH Sarawak Chapter to incentivise the hospitality industry and boost domestic tourism during this pandemic.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau who is also STB chairman, STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor, Grab Malaysia regional operations manager Joyce Lee and Mah Sarawak Chapter advisor Mohamad Ibrahim Nordin were also present at the event.