KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the Visit Sarawak Year 2019 campaign last night, expressing great confidence in the growth potential of the state’s tourism industry.
He said the state possessed an abundance of natural beauty, including its caves and national parks, as well as a unique multicultural society.
"The state government will focus on developing tourism infrastructure in the state including upgrading facilities in national parks and caves as well as the development of the Kuching heritage," he said when launching the campaign during the new year countdown event at the Kuching Waterfront here, last night.
He said the state government was targeting to bring in five million tourists in 2019, up from the 4.5 million people recorded this year.
As a result, he said the state government was working to improve air connectivity, and would be building a low-cost carrier terminal in Kuching, amid negotiations with AirAsia to make the capital its aviation hub in the region.
In addition, he said the Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) had begun direct flights to Kuching for tourists from Europe.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari announced that the Sarawak state government would be opening its own trading office in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and Pontianak, Indonesia, as well as in Singapore as announced previously.
On the dawn of a new year, Abang Johari called on all Sarawakians to continue to preserve the long-existing unity and harmony in the state. –- BERNAMA