Sarawak Tourism Coordination Meeting Convened: Target to Attract 5 Million Tourists and RM12.7 Billion Revenue

(Miri, 24th) — Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Datuk Sebastian Ting, chaired the first 2025 Sarawak Tourism Coordination Committee (STCC) meeting today and pointed out that Sarawak recorded 1,994,257 tourist arrivals in the first five months of 2025, with tourism revenue surpassing RM5.07 billion, a highly encouraging performance.

He stated that Sarawak has set a target this year of attracting 5 million tourist arrivals and achieving RM12.73 billion in tourism revenue, and current growth trends indicate this aspiration is well within reach.

“Up to May, the largest number of foreign tourists came from Brunei (647,184), Indonesia (296,859), followed by China (28,815), Singapore (23,906), and the Philippines (18,621). Sarawak’s total tourism revenue in 2024 reached RM12.45 billion, a growth of nearly 25% compared to 2023 (RM9.99 billion).” he said.

He emphasized that Sarawak’s competitiveness in the global tourism market continues to strengthen, thanks to the state government’s strategic funding and industry cooperation. He noted that the 2025 Sarawak Budget allocates RM255 million to support the tourism industry, reflecting the Premier’s high priority for the sector’s development.

Focus on 18 Key Tourism Strategic Directions
During the meeting, he also outlined 18 key strategies being promoted by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism this year, including aligning with global tourism trends, strengthening eco and community-based tourism (such as the Sarawak Triangular Geopark), protecting and promoting cultural heritage, supporting Kuching’s application as a “UNESCO Creative City,” enhancing Kuching’s bid for “World Craft City,” promoting Mulu and Niah world heritage sites, expanding the business and convention tourism market, developing health and medical tourism, promoting educational tourism, exploring new blue ocean opportunities in lake tourism, enhancing cross-border tourism cooperation (such as Brunei-Indonesia-Kalimantan), advancing digital tourism experiences, strengthening the Sarawak tourism brand, improving tourism infrastructure, leveraging “AirBorneo” to expand routes, promoting capacity-building and training funds, advancing industry talent development, and preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Call for Industry Collaboration and Continued Communication
“Today’s meeting is not just for me to talk one-sidedly; I am more eager to hear feedback and suggestions from all industry players and relevant agencies. The challenges in the tourism sector require us to pool our wisdom and work together to overcome them.” said Ting.

He also expressed his gratitude to both state and federal agencies (such as STF, SFC, JKR, NGOs, etc.) for their continued support, and especially thanked tourism industry members across the state for their proactive efforts in post-pandemic recovery and industry innovation.
Attendees included representatives from tourism organizations within and outside the state, government officials, industry leaders, and NGO representatives.

In the second half of 2025, Miri will host multiple major academic and medical conferences, covering a range of fields including orthopedics, diabetes, sports medicine, finance, psychology, and sustainable development, providing a platform for local and international experts to exchange and collaborate:
(1) The inaugural Sarawak International Basic Orthopedic Trauma Masterclass will be held on June 13-14 at Miri Hospital, focusing on the latest advances in orthopedic trauma treatment.
(2) The 3rd Borneo Diabetes Conference will take place from September 19-21 at the Miri Diabetes Center, aiming to enhance regional cooperation in diabetes management and research.
(3) The Sarawak Sports Medicine and Exercise Science Conference will return to Miri Hospital from November 7-9, expected to attract sports health experts from home and abroad.
(4) The 27th Malaysian Finance Association International Conference is scheduled for November 26-27 at Curtin University Miri, bringing together finance scholars to discuss regional and global economic topics.
(5) The 17th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (ICMPC) will be held at Curtin University from November 27-29, led by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), exploring the intersection of music and psychology.
(6) The 2nd Globesync Community Research and Sustainable Development Conference (GlobeCoReS) will be held on December 4-5 at Curtin University, focusing on community-oriented sustainability research projects.

This series of conferences will not only provide Miri with professional exchange opportunities, but also drive the development of local healthcare, education, and research fields.