The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is looking to attract new tourist markets from countries such as South Korea as well as expand its horizons in terms of the different kind of tourism available, such as golf tourism.

This was reiterated during the group’s media familiarisation trip jointly organised with Omni Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd, whereby top Korean executives and editors of Korea’s golf magazine came to Kuching for a three-day visit.

The main objective of the trip is to increase the awareness of Kuching as well as Sarawak as a tourist attraction to Koreans.

It also aims to create touristic value to specific target groups in preparation of and as a precursor to the intiatives in establishing a direct charter flight from Incheon, Korea to Kuching.

According Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, during his discussions, there was potential for Sarawak to up its game in golf tourism especially from South Korea.

“Basically, my discussion with them is that they are here to look into the golf courses in Kuching where they will give their feedback and comments,” he said.

Korea is categorised as STB’s main focus market with recent interest to revive the market with relevance of Korean visitors’ interest in niche markets of sports and adventure tourism.

Ik Pahon, who is also the chief executive officer of STB, added that the visitors are looking into the proposal to bring in the Korean junior golf players given that it is affordable for them to learn and play here and at the same time enjoy their holidays.

“This is just a fact finding mission. So, once they are ready, they will give the feedback and hopefully for my part, we will work with the golf clubs on how to improve the conditions (here) based on what they require,” Ik Pahon said.

He believes that the potential is there but that they will need to continue networking with the Korean executives and VIPs of the golf associations and travel magazines.

This first familiarisation trip in the series consists of high level executives and influential very important people (VIPs) that can provide the appropriate platform to market Kuching and Sarawak as a whole as a prime golfing destination in South East Asia.

The market was first worked out in 2012 with Malaysian Airline System Bhd’s (MAS) direct flight from Incheon International Airport to Kuching via Bangkok.

Last year, the state received 7,448 Korean visitors – a 10.83 per cent increase as compared to 6,720 arrivals in 2013.

In terms of overall arrivals last year, Pahon noted that Sarawak achieved 4.8 million visitors while for this year, Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg has announced a target of five million in terms of

arrivals.

On whether the upcoming implementation of goods and services tax (GST) will impact travel demand here, Pahon said they have yet to see any impact but affirmed that the state’s industry players are prepared in terms of packaging and prices.

“They are already aware and I checked with them, most of them are already registered,” he said.

“I think now our advantage is because our currency is vis-a-vis other currencies, not to say we are not very strong… but I think if you look at our standing, we are more competitive in terms of our currency. So, they will be able to spend more money here.”

via STB eyes South Korea, sports tourism as new growth nodes – BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News | Largest English Daily In Borneo.