KUCHING: The newly-completed Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum will add to Sarawak’s attractions when it opens next year.
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the opening is targeted for the first quarter of 2025.
He said the museum will give visitors a glimpse into Sarawak’s industrial heritage.
“Established by the second Rajah, Sir Charles Brooke, the dockyard played a crucial role in ship repair in Sarawak,” said Abdul Karim on Tuesday (Dec 2).
“We embarked on this project with a vision to upgrade the building and showcase its rich history,” he added.
Abdul Karim said the museum is one of several major projects to boost tourism through added value and experiences.
He said another key project is redeveloping the Kuching South City Council swimming pool into a water fun park and Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy Centre.
He said the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of next year.
“This gastronomy centre will act as a hub for culinary creativity and Sarawak’s food heritage,” he said.
Abdul Karim said it will give local chefs a platform to showcase their skills and talent.
He said tourism related projects and infrastructure will be prioritised under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
These include the Sarawak Craft Centre and Darul Hana Malay Heritage Museum as well as the Sarawak Art Gallery and Bau Gold Mine Museum and Park.
Aside from this, the rejuvenation of the Kuching Waterfront and mangrove tourism in Sadong Jaya are also planned as well as the upgrading of the Miri Petroleum Museum.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak recorded 4.01 million visitor arrivals from January to October this year.
He said this is a 0.7% increase from the same period last year.
Abdul Karim then added Asean remains the state’s key tourism market led by Brunei and Indonesia.
He said Brunei contributed 1.3 million visitors and Indonesia 0.58 million.
“China with 58,822 visitors, Singapore with 52,406 and the Philippines with 39,284 were other top contributors,” he said.
Abdul Karim added domestic tourism remains significant with 1.77 million visitors from other parts of Malaysia,” he said.
He said this constitutes 44.1% of the total.
Abdul Karim said that Sarawak received RM10.22bil in tourism receipts from January to October.
He said this averages over RM1bil a month, adding the increased visitors generated spin off effects for the local economy.
