KUCHING: Be ambassadors of the state and promote Sarawak and its beauty to the world.
This is the message of Suriya Charles Buas, state Tourism and Culture Ministry director to everyone in Sarawak at the launching of the 14th Sarawak Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agencies (Matta) Fair 2019, an ongoing three-day event held from today until March 10 at Boulevard Shopping Mall here.
“I believe everyone in Sarawak is an ambassador to the state and being an ambassador, we have to contribute to the state’s tourism by attracting more tourists,” he said.
Suriya added that students studying abroad should be ambassadors, too.
The fair is organised by Matta and endorsed by the government in conjunction with the Visit Sarawak 2019 campaign.
Matta organising committee member Chai Foh Chin also spoke.
“MATTA will continue its efforts to develop the tourism industry in general and spur the growth of business opportunities leading to positive increase in tourist arrivals such as updating of the Tourism Industry Act, capacity building for the tourism workforce and introduction of luxury tourism vehicles for high spending visitors to increase tourism receipts,” Chai said.
He added that the fair had 76 booths which were participated by 24 member travel agents from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia and 11 other travel-related service providers and tourism promotion organisations.
Also present at the officiating ceremony were Matta Sarawak chapter deputy chairman Nelson Lai, consulate general of Brunei Pengiran Hajah Krtini Pengiran Haji Tahir, consulate general of Indonesia Irhamna Fithriya and Vista Hidayanti, Sarawak Tourism Federation president Audry Wan Ulok, Malaysian Association of Hotel chairman Mohd Ibrahim Nordin and Michael Lu from Sarawak Tourism Board.
