KUCHING: The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have disrupted the travel plans of Sarawak's tourism delegation to the ITB Berlin travel trade show, says Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
The state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said his deputy Datuk Sebastian Ting and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor were among those unable to travel to the event, which ends Thursday (March 5).
"STB set up a Sarawak Pavilion at ITB Berlin to promote tourism, but many of those we wanted to send there, including travel agents and senior officials, were unable to go.
"Ting, who was supposed to represent me, and the STB CEO had to cancel at the last moment due to the lack of flights, because their routes would have gone through the Middle East," he told reporters here.
However, Karim said STB chairman Datuk Dennis Ngau and four travel agents managed to reach Berlin earlier.
"Dennis officiated the Sarawak Pavilion yesterday, but with a smaller delegation.
"So the conflict has adversely affected our efforts to market Sarawak overseas," he said.
Karim also expressed concern that prolonged tensions would affect Sarawak's tourist arrivals from Europe.
He said Sarawak received significant numbers of tourists from Germany and Britain.
"If it drags on, of course our tourism will be affected. It will affect our Rainforest World Music Festival in June.
"Many might cancel their plans to come. We never know because June is already close," he said.
