The Sarawak government aims to help farmers increase their income and reduce poverty by diversifying their sources of revenue through agrotourism and exploring related business opportunities, according to Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
During the opening of the Sarawak Agrotourism Conference and Expo, Abang Johari, whose speech was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, emphasized the role of agrotourism in the Sarawak post-Covid-19 development strategy (PCDS 2030) that focuses on social inclusivity and economic and social benefits for all Sarawakians.
Although agrotourism is still in its infancy stage in Sarawak, Abang Johari believes that with strategic promotion of the state’s farms, infrastructure, and facilities, Sarawak can become a leading destination for agrotourism.
By offering a unique and distinct tourism product, Sarawak can enhance its reputation beyond the typical offerings in tourism, he added.
Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s potential to provide authentic and rich agrotourism experiences, attracting high-yield tourists who appreciate the state’s land, cuisine, and traditions. Additionally, he emphasized that agrotourism is an opportunity to uplift local communities and facilitate rural development.
Community-based tourism, which is an integral part of agrotourism, empowers local residents by directly involving them in tourism activities, resulting in economic benefits and the preservation of farming, ecological, and cultural environments, he explained.
Through the conference, the Sarawak government aims to promote investment in agrotourism to stimulate the development of new infrastructure, accommodation, food production, and tourism services. This, in turn, will contribute to rural development, community participation, and job creation, according to Abang Johari.
The premier emphasized that the agrotourism sector offers employment opportunities for university graduates and school leavers, both full-time and part-time, thereby creating a new job market.
The Sarawak Agrotourism Conference and Expo, which spans three days, covers various topics such as global trends and regional policies in agrotourism, regenerative tourism, community-based food production, farm tourism, and sustainability indicators. Additionally, it will provide an overview of agriculture in Sarawak and present agrotourism case studies from New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
