Sarawak targets six million tourists

KUCHING – Sarawak has targeted six million tourists in 2010 with 60 percent being domestic tourists, Sarawak Tourism Malaysia director Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali said.

He said Tourism Malaysia was focusing on selling domestic tourism at travel markets in peninsula Malaysia by attracting retirees and young executives.

“We want Malaysians from the peninsula to visit Sarawak during off-peak period as many like to come here during school holidays or peak period,” he told Bernama at a ‘Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia’ programme here Sunday.

Johanif said Tourism Malaysia would also send representatives overseas to promote Sarawak aimed at attracting more foreign tourists.

Tourism Malaysia will also hold a Gawai open house at three longhouses in Kuching including in Benuk and Anna Rais to woo tourists.

“Gawai Day is unique to Sarawak. We have to use this as our strength in attracting tourists. It is targeted at tourists from peninsula Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.