Category: Updates From The Industry

Minister Urges Sarawakians To Discover Tourism Attractions In Their Own Backyard

KUCHING – Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, together with an entourage from the Ministry, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) visited Bako National Park and Pulau Lakei on 2nd October 2021 as Sarawak entered the second day where tourism attractions in the state are allowed to resume operations.

The working visit started with a tree-planting session led by YB Dato Seri Karim at the new Bako Terminal, accompanied by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Permanent Secretary Mr. Hii Chang Kee, STB CEO Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor and SFC CEO Zolfkipli Mohamad Aton.

After a 20-minute boat trip from the terminal to Bako National Park, the visitors went on a walkabout at the park’s circular Ulu Assam trail and were briefed on the geological rock formations and vegetation that is found within the park’s vicinity.

The visit continued with another 20-minute boat-trip to Pulau Lakei where the group ascended a wooden staircase to visit mausoleum of Datuk Haji Ibrahim, a well-respected man who resided on the island more than three centuries ago. Next stop was the small natural pool, Salamun Pond, where it is believed Ibrahim engraved writings resembling Arabic calligraphy on the sandstone with his bare fingers, before reaching the Pa-Amit Cape viewing point where one can get some absolutely stunning views of the Bako-Buntal Bay area.

YB Karim said the working visit by the Ministry and the relevant tourism agencies was to make sure that the facilities and services at Sarawak tourist attractions are well-maintained and ready to receive visitors after ceasing operation due to the pandemic.

“As tourism operation resumes, this is a good opportunity for Sarawakians to discover and enjoy the wonderful tourism attractions in their own backyard to revive from lockdown fatigue”, he said.

“As majority of boat operators here in Bako are from its’ local community, the increasing number of visitors to the park will help elevate their livelihood that may have been affected due to the pandemic,” he added.

YB Karim also urged Sarawak tour operators to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry and its tourism agencies to promote all the amazing tourism products that Sarawak has to offer to domestically, and also to the international market to create a travelling demand to the state once the borders are open.


YB Dato Seri Karim (front) with SFC CEO Encik Zolkipli upon arrival at Bako National Park. Also seen in the picture is STB CEO Puan Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor (orange jacket).


Dr. Ramli from SFC giving a briefing on the vegetation and plants that are found at the park.


The view that welcomes visitors once they set foot on the shores of Bako National Park.


A group photo to end the trip with YB Karim, Mr. Hii Chang Kee, En. Zolkipli and Puan Sharzede.

STB wins WTM World Responsible Tourism Award



KUCHING – The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) and Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF) virtual experiences organised by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), was recently named as the ‘One to Watch’ by WTM Responsible Tourism Awards 2021.

Open to four regions (Africa, India, Latin America and the Rest of the World), the awards recognise excellence in responsible tourism, and selected RWMF and BJF in the Destinations Building Back Better Post-Covid category.

These first-of-their-kind events in the region were streamed live on multiple online platforms and on TV channels, providing a platform for local performers to showcase their culture and heritage.

STB also partnered with Shopee and GrabFood to provide retailers an opportunity to market and sell authentic Sarawakian food and tourism products such as handicrafts and souvenirs, to local audiences. Viewers were able to watch the performances, interviews and flashbacks and engage in conversation with other online users throughout the 90-minute event as well as watch workshops from previous years from the virtual Bidayuh, Iban, Chinese and Malay houses at the Sarawak Cultural Village.

Upon the completion of the shows, a total of 402,865 people from 79 countries had tuned in for the RWMF and 244,637 from 43 different countries had tuned in for BJF. Leveraging on this global audience to promote responsible tourism, STB launched two responsible tourism videos during the virtual experience to educate viewers on the importance of responsible and sustainable tourism.

For more information on the festivals, visit rwmf.net and jazzborneo.com

As DMOs across the globe continue to rebrand from destination marketing organisations to embrace the importance of being destination management organisations, the Virtual PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2021 celebrates this trend with the theme of ‘Experiences that Inspire.’

Join Virtual PATA Destination Marketing Forum for insights on key issues in marketing and managing tourism growth.

Nov 24, 1 PM – Nov 26, 3:30 PM (GMT+8 Malaysia)
(Nov 24, 10:30 AM – Nov 26, 1 PM (GMT+5.5 India) | Nov 24, 12 PM – Nov 26, 2:30 PM (GMT+7 Thailand) | Nov 24, 3 PM – Nov 26, 5:30 PM (GMT+10 Sydney))

REGISTER NOW

Tickets are offered on a first-come-first-served basis – secure yours right away!

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Message from Sarawak Tourism Board:

Mass tourism is giving way to travel’s new normal, where travellers coming out of the pandemic will be looking to make meaningful engagements and emotional connections at their destination of choice. Sarawak Tourism Board warmly welcomes tourism industry stakeholders to explore this rising trend together in the upcoming Virtual PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2021, themed ‘Experiences that Inspire.’

Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Sarawak and the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Sarawak, Malaysia is proud to host this two-day event, which will be building upon the global movement towards purposeful travel.

As a destination that is thriving with Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF), Sarawak’s tourism industry is committed to responsible tourism, to safeguard its wealth of tangible and intangible heritage while making Sarawak a better place to live and a better place to visit for generations to come.

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Programme Highlights:



Moving Beyond Destination Marketing to Destination Management

Before the pandemic, we saw tourism boards making a move away from just destination marketing and expanding their role to destination management. Post-pandemic, will that continue? Why is it important? What does that mean? Who is doing it best? And what are the implications for stakeholders? Find the answers through the conference!



Shinta Mani Wild: How One Hotel Changed a Destination

An interview with Bill Bensley, a landscape architect, architect, and interior designer who has designed over 200 hospitality projects in 50 countries including the Shinta Mani, a tented camp in remote Cambodia that helped elevated the game for Cambodia and helped to create a luxury circuit in a traditionally backpacker market. Join the event to learn how other destinations can replicate Shinta Mani Wild’s success!



Sarawak Virtual Tours

Enjoy the beauty of Sarawak, Malaysia through a number of virtual tours streamed live from the peaceful island with diverse experiences to offer! Adventure along the Semadang River, discover the Melanau culture in the ancient village, and try out the local desserts! Join the virtual tours to satisfy your desire for travel and win some exciting prizes!

Take a sneak peak >



Case Studies on Asia Pacific Destinations

Witnessing the recovery of Maldives, and the opening of Thailand and its pilot programme- the Phuket Sandbox, what are the learnings we can gain from these destinations? With responsible travel’s rising importance for consumers in the post-COVID era, what is the current situation of sustainability in the Asia Pacific region? Join these case study sessions to hear from expert panelists!

and more…

See the full programme >

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Thanks to the generous support of our partners and sponsors, visitor registration is open to PATA International Members, Chapter Members, and Non-Members.

Tickets are offered on a first-come-first-served basis – secure yours right away!

REGISTER NOW

For inquiries, please email [email protected]

Post-event recordings will be available exclusively to PATA International Members.
Please note that certificates will not be provided to delegates of this event.

STB Launches Photography and Videography Competition


Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has launched its very first photography and videography competition, to celebrate the power of art and creativity, in showcasing the beauty and uniqueness of Sarawak.

Themed, ‘Sarawak, a Journey Awaits’, the competition is open to all Malaysians nationwide beginning today until 30 November 2021. All materials submitted must be recent, no more than three years old. All entries must capture Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food and festival (CANFF) and accompanied with a short description or caption.

Puan Sharzede Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board said, “Artistic platforms such as photography and videography remind us how connected we all are on this planet, and allows us to engage with Malaysians from all walks of life, in a creative manner.”

“For the past year, much of our time has been apart. In this time, Sarawak has continued to thrive and remains one of the most unique destinations in Malaysia. We encourage Malaysians to take this opportunity to share their personal perspectives of Sarawak, especially in highlighting the vibrancy and authenticity of the state.”

“We look forward to discovering Malaysians’ take on Sarawak’s culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals, and urge them to grab their cameras and showcase the state in all its multifaceted splendour!”

The judging mechanism will be decided by a panel of handpicked judges. Each participant can submit up to five photographs in each of the categories and one video for the competition. All materials are authorised under the copyright of Sarawak Tourism Board with credit given to the photographer/videographer where applicable.

Winners of the photography and videography competition will be announced on Sarawak Tourist Board and Sarawak Photo Art Society’s Facebook and website https://stb.foto.org.my/ or www.spas.com.my/. A prize-giving ceremony will be organised in due course.

Photograph/Video Requirements

• Submitted photographs should be in jpg format 8”x12” x 300dpi and without watermarks.
• The video entries should have a maximum duration of three
• All submissions must be compliance to the Rules and Regulations of the competition. Entry that minutes in mp4 format of 4K resolution 16:9 format using drone or other videography equipment such as handphones.
• All submissions can be uploaded to https://stb.foto.org.my/
• Does not follow the terms and conditions will be disqualified.

Prizes

Photography	Videography
Grand prize winner – RM5,000
Prizes for each category First prize – RM3,000 Second prize – RM2,000 Third prize – RM1,000 10 Consolation prize – RM100 1 x special student award – RM2,000	First prize – RM10,000 Second prize – RM8,000 Third prize – RM6,000 Special student award – RM2,000

For more information on the contest, visit https://stb.foto.org.my/

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Sarawak Tourism Players Attend WTM London 2021



KUCHING – Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) along with 10 local travel and tour operators will be participating in WTM Virtual London, the annual global travel market via a virtual Sarawak stand housed in Waterfront Hotel from 8th-9th November 2021.

The participation which echoes STB’s continuous effort to increase Sarawak’s visibility presents an opportunity for local industry players to network with trade buyers and media across the globe. STB also took part via a physical booth in WTM London from 1st – 3rd November 2021 in ExCel London.

The 10 local travel and tour operators involved are Authentic Borneo Tours, Borneo Adventure, Brighton Travel & Tours, Cat City Holidays, CPH Travel Agencies, Greatown Travel, Ecogreen Holidays, Happy Trails Borneo Tours, Minda Nusantara Tours & Travel Agencies, and Paradesa Borneo.

STB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said that since the onset of the pandemic, STB and its tourism partners have tapped further into promoting domestic tourism. With the world’s travel restriction gradually easing up, Sarawak is looking forward to welcome back international travellers.

“The return of international travellers is crucial for our tourism industry’s recovery. Our participation in WTM London will be another step forward to come together with our international tourism partners to see how we can put our heads together to anticipate the needs and wants of a new brand of post-pandemic tourists,” Sharzede said.

With increased focus on responsible tourism especially after the pandemic, Sarawak is also ready to empower its visitors with their niche tourism products to make a positive contribution during their visit such as orangutan conservation works, cycling, birding and many more.

During the event, STB also released their latest destination creatives with the theme “A Journey Awaits”, featuring Sarawak’s geographical and cultural wonders packed with its culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals.

Through the message of healing in the video, Sarawak invites travellers to recover from pandemic fatigue in the state’s wealth of naturally endowed gifts – Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) – amidst the comfort of Sarawak’s hospitality. The video can also be viewed at STB’s official Youtube channel.

For more information about Sarawak, log on to Sarawak Tourism Board’s website: https://sarawaktourism.com.

When we talk about a foodie’s experience in Mukah, it is impossible not to mention its wide range of authentic delicacies. This includes its famous marinated raw seafood dish, ‘umai’ and ‘linut’, a starchy paste made from sago flour which is usually served together with ‘sambal belacan’, a spicy chilli condiment mix with shrimp paste.

Mukah, which is one of the major sago producers in Malaysia, has for decades exported its sago to the outside world. Those famous ‘boba’ in Taiwanese milk tea drinks favoured by urban teens? They are made from sago!

In this episode, follow Bianca and Nadja on their journey into Mukah, the Melanau Heartland, to discover more about sago and how it is made into a variety of Melanau’s famous dishes, especially the ‘linut’ and those chewy goodness in bubble tea drinks.

The video is also available in our Facebook Page, Sarawak Travel, Malaysia Borneo, our Sarawak, Travel, Malaysia Borneo Youtube Channel and Sarawak Tourism Board website. Stay tuned for new episodes.

Starting July 29, 2020, all travellers entering Sarawak will only need to fill the enterSarawak & e-HDF Form.

The unified enterSarawak & e-HDF Form aims to provide travellers with one seamless experience, and to ensure a pleasant journey into Sarawak.

The integrated form can be found on the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee website at sdmc.sarawak.gov.my.

This form is also to be filled by those travelling by air within Sarawak.

For those whom have applied before July 29, 2020, the application will still be processed under the current system.

Let us continue to be COVID aware, and to travel safely and responsibly.

Stay safe, save lives.

UCSI University Sarawak held its virtual International Tourism Seminar on July 24, 2020, discussing various aspects of tourism. Entitled “Tourism Recovery & Development – Responsibility, Sustainability & Value Creation”, the webinar discussed various aspects of tourism recovery in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. Speakers of the seminar included industry experts from various countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Bulgaria and Malaysia.

STB Chief Executive Officer, Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor who was invited as one of the speakers, representing Sarawak, shared various aspects of Responsible Tourism and Sarawak’s efforts in implementing Responsible Tourism, especially when hosting internationally renowned events such as the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF). She also shared on how Responsible Tourism has benefitted the State’s economic viability, the environment and empowering community (3Es), as well as its importance in the recovery of tourism post COVID-19.

The session was moderated by Associate Professor Ida Ingko, from the Department of Tourism and Commerce, UCSI University Sarawak.

To watch the recorded livestream, visit UCSI University Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Management Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fhtmatucsiuniversity.

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Malaysia has issued a Restricted Movement Order which includes temporary closure of all government premises starting March 18 to April 14, 2020.

However, our tourist information services are still available and we can be reached through our mobile phones as follows:

Monday – Friday: 9am to 6pm

Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 9am to 3pm

Visitors’ Information Centre:

Kuching	Sibu	Miri
Mr Loji Tungging (+6012-8821711) Ms Angela Linsam (+6013-5396787) Ms Jane Chong (+6013-8165566) Ms Nujaimi Laudin (+6011-19832186) Mr Alfonso McKenzie (+6016-8785947 – National Parks) Ms Affisiah Sijali (+6014-2086488 – National Parks)	Ms Siti Nabzah (+6010-9630572) Ms Prisca Wong (+6014-6567321) Mr Jessie Mangka (+6013-8282168)	Mr Mohd Amirul (+6013-8131977) Mr Yusup Labo (+6013-8371007) Ms Audrey Foo (+6019-8904886)

For further information, visit our Visitors’ Information Centre Official Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/vicsarawak/ or www.sarawaktourism.com.

This is to inform that our office will be closed from March 18, 2020 to April 28, 2020 to adhere to the Malaysian Government’s decision on the COVID-19 outbreak.

Our utmost concern and caring are towards our staffs and visitors alike to help contain this deadly virus.

For further information, please contact us via email at [email protected] or visit our website at www.sarawaktourism.com.