BELUM DISUNTING 18 MEI 2017 (Mesyuarat dimulakan pada jam 9.18 pagi) (Timbalan Speaker mempengerusikan Mesyuarat) DOA PEMASYURAN DARIPADA TIMBALAN SPEAKER Timbalan Speaker: Order-order, please. I will get the Deputy Secretary to go and get the technician to fix the system. Is it ok? Selamat pagi dan salam sejahtera. Dengan hormatnya saya menjemput Yang Berhormat Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan untuk menyampaikan Ucapan Penggulungan. (Penggulungan oleh Para Menteri) Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan (YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): I hope this audio system is ok or else I don‟t want to proceed if it is not ok. Bismillahirahmanirrahim, Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera dan juga Salam Negaraku Malaysia. Terima Kasih Ahli Yang Berhormat, Bertanya soalan yang hebat-hebat, Sesi berdebat sudah pun tamat, Mohon izin penggulungan dibuat. Tuan Speaker, syukur kita kehadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata‟ala kerana dengan limpah kurnia dan izinNya, kita dapat bersidang di dalam Dewan yang mulia ini sempena Persidangan Pertama bagi Penggal Kedua Dewan Undangan Negeri Ke -18 dalam suasana yang penuh akrab dan harmoni. Dengan adanya kestabilan politik, maka Kerajaan Negeri dapat menumpukan sepenuh perhatian dalam melaksanakan dasar-dasar pembangunan demi kesejahteraan rakyat. Tahniah dan syabas juga saya ucapkan kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg atas pelantikan beliau sebagai Ketua Menteri Sarawak yang ke 6. Kita penuh yakin dan percaya bahawa Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri akan terus menyambung Agenda Pembangunan Negeri seperti yang telah dipelopori oleh Allahyarham Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan bin Satem sebelumnya iaitu ke arah Negara Maju menjelang 2030. Saya juga ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucap terima kasih kepada Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri atas kepercayaan dan keyakinan beliau melantik saya sebagai Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Sarawak. Saya akan berusaha sedaya upaya saya dan memberi komitmen yang sepenuhnya terhadap tugas yang telah diamanahkan kepada saya. Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri semasa Ucapan Perasmian Dewan Undangan Negeri pada 11.5.2017 menaruh penuh harapan agar sektor pelancongan terus diberi perhatian dan dibangunkan baik dari segi infrastrukur, produk pelancongan, modal insan dan memperhebatkan lagi aktiviti promosi supaya Sarawak dikenali sebagai destinasi pelancongan yang menarik di mata dunia. Ini adalah kerana sektor pelancongan mampu menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi Negeri dan juga berupaya membuka banyak peluang perniagaan dan pekerjaan. 1 BELUM DISUNTING 18 MEI 2017 Dari Mulu ke Gunung Buda, Sambil melihat si bunga pakma, Seni budaya warisan kita, Ayuh bangun dan promosi bersama. Seterusnya, izinkan saya untuk membuat penggulungan berhubung dengan Kementerian Pelancongan, Kesenian,Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Tourism Global Tourism Scenario The Global Tourism sector continues to show positive growth. Global international tourist arrivals grew by 3.9% in 2016, receiving a total of 1.23 billion international tourists worldwide, 48 million more tourists as compared to 2015. According to United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer, the Asia and the Pacific region gained 8% increase, the Africa region, gained also 8% increase in Tourism. Both regions have led the growth in international tourist arrivals in 2016. This was followed by America (+4%) and Europe (+2%) while arrivals to the Middle East decreased by 3%.The UNWTO forecast 3% to 4% increase in international tourist arrivals for 2017, expecting better result as compared to the previous year. Tuan Speaker, Malaysia‟s Performance 2016 and 2017 Forecast In 2016, Malaysia received 26.8 million tourists, an increase of 4% arrivals growth and generating an estimated RM82.1 billion in tourist receipts. ASEAN markets continue to contribute largely to the arrivals, namely from Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand. Sarawak‟s Performance 2016 and 2017 Forecast For Sarawak, in 2016 we received 4.66 million visitors, bringing in an estimated tourist receipt of RM8.37 billion. Arrival figure indicates an increase of 3.19%as compared to 2015.For 2017; my Ministry is targeting 5 million visitor arrivals and expecting RM8.98 billion in tourism receipt. As of January to April this year, visitors' arrival figure was 1.67 million indicating an increase of 17.26% as compared to the corresponding period in 2016. Tourism as the Driver and Catalyst to Accelerate Growth for the Service Sector Tuan Speaker, tourism as the driver and catalyst to accelerate the growth for the service sector under the State Transformation Plan, the State Government has set up three cabinet committees to undertake intervention growth plans in areas of the State socio- economic development, rural growth and service delivery. The three committees are: Socio- Economic Transformation; Rural Transformation; and Performance and Service Delivery Transformation. Acknowledging the significance and important contribution of tourism to the local economy as an impetus to create new growth in the service sector, the State Government has placed tourism as one of the Key Result Areas (KRAs) under the Socio-Economic Transformation Programme (SETP). For the year 2017, the following KRAs projects and programs have been approved for implementation: 2 BELUM DISUNTING 18 MEI 2017 (a) Branding for Sarawak From the feedback we received from foreigners during our numerous trades and travel shows abroad, Sarawak is not well known overseas as compared to other destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Penang, Langkawi and Melaka. We need to create a brand identity for Sarawak not only as a tourist destination but also as a business event, trade, sports as well as investment destination. The approach and strategy need to be holistic and to cover as many sectors as possible. Hence, the State Government has agreed to engage a Brand Specialist to look into this matter. (b) Upgrading of Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities This KRA includes infrastructures at Bako National Park, Fairy Cave and Wind cave, construction of a boat jetty at Santubong for visitors visiting the Kuching Wetland RAMSAR site and for diving and fishing activities. This KRA also includes the construction of a walkway linking Fort Margherita with the yet to be completed pedestrian Bridge. (c) Development of New Tourism Products This KRA includes the conversion of the Old Brooke Dockyard into a Maritime Museum, the conversion of the Old DUN building into a performing Arts Centre, conversion of the former Miri Resident & District Office into a Cultural and Heritage Centre and the conversion of the goldmine in Bau into a Gold Mine Museum and Park. (d) Face-lifting and Upgrading Works This KRA is to revitalise the Kuching Waterfront into a more vibrant and attractive place to visit at day and night time, allowing more tourism and commercial activities. (e) Creating Fringe Events for Several Iconic Events This KRA is to enhance the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) and the Rainforest World Music Festival to include more local participations. (f) Establishing a Dedicated Sarawak Tourism app This KRA is to establish a dedicated Sarawak tourism app that caters to all needs of a visitor. With this app, all information on tourism will be coordinated and link to all social media network and finally will funnel into „call for action‟ links; and finally (g) Increasing Direct Flights This KRA is to provide incentives to interested airlines to fly direct to Sarawak, either on chartered or scheduled flights. Overall, there are 13 KRA projects and programme under my Ministry and an approved allocation of RM60 million. While my ministry immediate focus are to implement the above KRAs, that I have just mentioned, my ministry will also 3 BELUM DISUNTING 18 MEI 2017 give equal attention to other areas which has the potential to grow and contribute to our economy namely medical tourism, cruise tourism, education tourism as well as sports tourism. Medical Tourism Medical tourism is increasing its clout in the global tourism market and the momentum has promotly diffused in the developing Asia like Sarawak. The medical tourism sector has been expanding and contributing to the State economy. New private hospitals are being build to cater for the increasing demand. The rise in number of specialist private hospitals across the State for example, Borneo Medical Centre ... (Interruption) ... Timbalan Speaker: Yang Berhormat Minister, Kota Sentosa? Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan (YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): Oh, ok. YB Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Honourable Minister, thank you. Tuan Speaker, ya, I listen carefully to the 13 KRA projects that was mentioned. Two things; number one, I think there‟s an omission of the promotion for Mulu Cave. I did not hear any promotion in respect of that which is world heritage site and has been under develop, underutilized the potential of such heritage site. And number two; the total amount allocated was RM60 million for the 13 project which will be carried out. I mean, do you think that is highly insufficient, I mean given that some of the project involve multimillion expenditure? Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan (YB Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): Terima kasih Ahli Yang Berhormat daripada Kota Sentosa. Well for his interest on tourism as well as bringing up the matter of Mulu. Well definitely Mulu is world renown heritage tourist destination which is something we should be proud of. And I have to admit I was not here in the KRA because I just came in, this is only my ten days you know, but ten day as a Minister, but then I‟m not going to say that we are not going to look into this matter. Definitely it will be looked into but then the discussion on the KRA has been done much earlier. I only came in later but we will look into this matter. Definitely there will be some provisions that will be to cater for those tourist hearts, Niah Cave or Mulu Cave in Miri.