MALAYSIA - Sarawak works on Lion City

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

KUALA LUMPUR – Plagued by falling visitor arrivals from Singapore, the Sarawak Tourism Board has developed a strategy to increase tourist arrivals from its biggest overseas market, by as much as 30 per cent in this last quarter.

In the first quarter of this year, there were 6,373 arrivals from Singapore to Sarawak, a 43.34 per cent decrease over the previous quarter’s 11,248.

Working with the two carriers that fly from Singapore to Kuching, SilkAir and Malaysia Airlines, and the Sarawak Ambassador consortium of agents in Singapore, the board launched Kuching Delight on September 28.

It is a marketing strategy to introduce the unique types of gastronomic, cultural and natural delights of the state capital, Kuching, to outbound travel agents, the media, schools and polytechnics.

Sarawak Tourism Board marketing manager, Ms Mary Wan Mering, explained the focus would be on activities popular with Singaporeans – dolphin and firefly watching, visits to an ethnic longhouse and orang utan rehabilitation centre, and city tours.

The first phase kicks off after the Muslim month of Ramadhan in late-October, with fam trips for travel agents and the press. “This would be ongoing and the airlines would sponsor the flights,” Ms Mering said.

After the year-end school exams and before the holidays begin, the board will hold a product update seminar on tourist spots in Kuching for secondary schools and polytechnics. “Schools have always been very supportive of Sarawak, with two-day/one-night study trips being the norm. We will answer queries on safety, food and any other issues schools may have pertaining to student travel.”

In the last quarter of 2005, Sarawak’s arrivals from Singapore totalled 9,281.

Travel agents said the board’s goal of 30 per cent growth from the Singapore market was very achievable, but felt arrivals for this last quarter could be higher if air fares on the Singapore-Kuching route were lowered.

Reliance Sightseeing director and general manager, Mr Henry Lee, said: “Sarawak Tourism Board should work with low-cost carrier (LCC), AirAsia, and further facilitate travel to Senai Airport for AirAsia flights to Kuching.”

Sarawak’s Third Division Travel Agents Association secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said: “The Sarawak state government should lobby the federal government to allow (Singapore LCC) Tiger Airways to fly to Sarawak. This will definitely see an upswing in numbers, as is seen in other cities when an LCC enters the market.”

Of late, the travel industry has been pinning hopes on the Singaporean LCC to stimulate inbound tourism through better accessibility to the state.

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