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KUCHING – Sarawak recorded a total of 1,603,463 visitors between January and November this year, exceeding the 1.2 million target set by the state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry for 2022.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the success resulted from cooperation between the state government and tourism industry players throughout this year after the industry faced various constraints for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I believe we can pass the 1.8 million mark in December. That means we will surpass our target of 1.2 million (visitors) by 600,000,” he said in a press conference to promote the 2023 New Year Celebration here today.
Elaborating, he said the Sarawak government has effectively implemented the industry’s recovery strategy based on feedback received from industry players and hoped that the state’s tourism sector would continue to grow next year.
“We have been able to manage our state very well. The hotel and tourism industry had been quite happy. For a few years, we were under lockdown, and we hope that the new year will be a good one for us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karim said the Darul Hana Bridge at the Kuching Waterfront, one of the state’s iconic landmarks, would be closed from December 28 in preparation for the 2023 New Year Celebration event to be held on December 31.
“The bridge will be used as a site to launch fireworks, so I apologise to visitors who want to stroll along the bridge. It will reopen on January 1, 2023,” he said.
With the theme “Let’s Celebrate Together”, the celebration will be filled with entertainment performances, including from the country’s famous entertainers, Datuk Awie and Datuk Aishah, and the international award-winning dance crew, Zeppo Youngsterz.
Karim said the highlight of the celebration, which will be attended by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and the state cabinet, will be the countdown to the new year and the computerised fireworks display. – Bernama, December 9, 2022
