AFTER laying off most of their workers in the last two years, Sarawak tour and travel firms are overwhelmed by the growing number of bookings, Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president  Audry Wan Ullok said.

Audry said members are now struggling to cope with the surge in demand.

“Travel agents who were previously idle have started receiving many queries, many more than they can cope with minimal staff,” she said.

An industry player, who did not want to be quoted, said the companies will most likely ramp up recruitment of new workers if the upward trend in tourist arrivals continues.

“Most of us are positive and will start recruiting if the trend continues. For now we are coping and have managed with the staff we have,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Border closures brought worldwide travel to a near standstill and the tourism sector in Sarawak to its knees.

Sarawak reopened its borders on April 1.

Tourism Minister Abdul Karim Hamzah on Monday said there had been a jump of 851.81% in visitor arrivals to Sarawak in the first seven months of the year compared to the corresponding period last year.

He said 703,891 people visited the state from January 1 to July 31 compared to 73,953 during the same period last year.

The number does not include visitors from neighbouring Brunei as the oil-rich sultanate only reopened its borders on August 1.

Tens of thousands of Brunei folk travel across the border to Miri, Limbang and Lawas every month.

Karim gave two reasons for the jump in arrivals – the number of flights going back to normal and the return of popular tourist events such as the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching and Borneo Jazz Festival in Miri.

Karim said an event was planned practically every week and “that should bring in a lot of visitors”.

Official data showed 127,448 foreign tourists had come to the state so far this year compared to 11,785 during the same period last year.

The jump, Karim said, was 981.44%.

 Domestic tourist arrrivals saw a similar increase, to 827.23%, as of July 31.

He said 576,443 Malaysians made their way to the state, compared to 62,168 in 2021

Tourism receipts for the first seven months amounted to RM1.64 billion.

“That is a jump of 856.95% from RM171.29 million last year,” Karim said.

With such impressive numbers, Karim said Sarawak would have no problem hitting the 1.2 million-visitor target it had set.

“We should be able to hit that target. Within six months we have already hit 700,000.” – August 12, 2022.