Sarawak should be promoted as a unique destination, playing on its
rich history of having a white “rajah” (king) to rule it, and to focus on its
strengths - rich culture, adventure, nature and music festivals.
Sarawak should be promoted as a unique destination, playing on its
rich history of having a white “rajah” (king) to rule it, and to focus on its
strengths - rich culture, adventure, nature and music festivals.
This is the message that Sarawak chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan
Satem, had for the delegates of the inaugural Sarawak Tourism Forum in Kuching.
Sarawak has a romantic history with Sir James Brooke (1803-1868), a
British adventurer, whose exploits in the Malay Archipelago made him the first
White Rajah of Sarawak.
As Adenan said, “No country has been ruled by a family of White
Rajahs. Be proud of your history and use this unique history to sell Sarawak.”
He hoped that a movie would be made on this adventurer who is synonymous
with Sarawak’s past, and that the film would promote Sarawak in the same way
“Lord of the Rings” did for New Zealand.
The chief minister also called for closer cooperation with Sabah,
proposing a Kinabalu (Sabah)-Mulu (Sarawak) programme for a unique traveller
experience.
Sarawak received 4.8 million tourists last year, topping its target
of 4.3 million, and representing an 11% increase over 2013. Tourism receipt was
RM10.6 billion (US$2.9 billion), contributing to 12% of the state GDP.