Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said today that tourists spent a total of RM6 billion in Sarawak last year and the target this year was for them to spend over 10 per cent more.

“As for the target for tourist arrivals, we have not decided yet but definitely we must do better than last year,”

he told reporters after the soft launch of Sarawak’s 2010 tourism calendar here.

Dr Chan, who is also state Tourism and Heritage Minister, said that with 39 tourism events taking place this year, it meant an evarage of three events per month.

All the events would reflect the cultural, ritual, musical, sports and arts aspects.

He highlighted 11 of the events which could generate more income and lure more tourists to the state.

They were the Mukah Kaul Festival in April, Miri International Jazz Festival (May), Irau Aco Festival (June), Pesta Babulang (June), Borneo Cultural Festival (July), Rainforest World Music Festival (July), Sarawak Regatta (July-August), Kuching Street Parade (August), Sarawak Intercultural Mooncake Festival (September), Borneo International Kites Festival (Sept-October) and Borneo International Yachting Festival (October).

Dr Chan suggested that the tourism industry come up with a new package to cater to the adventurous tourists as the trend now was towards active participation from local and foreign tourists.

Despite being badly hit by the influenza A (H1N1) epidemic and the global economic downturn, Sarawak’s tourism industry, its second biggest revenue earner, managed a commendable perfomance by attractiong 3.2 million tourists last year compared with less than 3 million in 2008.

Source: Bernama