SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD TAKES A STEP FORWARD IN REALISING SARAWAK’S DIGITAL ECONOMY AGENDA FOR TOURISM
SARAWAK, 10th May 2022 – Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) charted another milestone today, launching its online data management platform, STB InTel and an E-learning platform with Lotus Voyager Group (LVG) as part of STB’s ongoing efforts to digitalise the tourism industry.
These data-based initiatives will further enhance Sarawak’s destination visibility globally through digital strategies and also position STB as an organisation moving forward in “smart tourism” together with Sarawak tourism stakeholders, in line with the Sarawak’s Government’s digital transformation agenda.
The digital initiatives were launched by Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, along with Mr Hii Chang Kee, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board.
During his speech, Abdul Karim said STB InTel would provide another component in Sarawak’s digital tourism strategies. The government to business (G2B) data sharing initiative, will enable ministry and tourism industry stakeholders to leverage on the data compiled from government agencies, tourism websites, in addition to Google Analytics, to monitor the effectiveness of tourism strategies, identify new key opportunities and create new initiatives and policy recommendations in the near future.
“A data sharing platform such as STB InTel will help ensure a cohesiveness between the public and private sector as we work together to create more informed strategies and develop more targeted products,” he added.
On the partnership with LVG, on its learning and networking platform for tourism professionals to learn about destinations and tourism products, Sarawak is the first state in Malaysia to utilize what is the world’s first Learning Management System at the B2B level, to connect and collaborate with tourism professionals around the world to create more visibility of Sarawak as a preferred tourist destination.
“Since the onboarding of these modules in early April, there are currently 1,346 outbound tour operators in the region who are ready to enrol in the course. We are expecting over 10,000 selective travel agents to be trained under the course by year’s end on 31st Dec 22. The programme will assign 1,000 new users for the course every month with promotions lined up in India, the Nordic market and in the UK in the months to come.” Abdul Karim said.
“I would like to praise Sarawak Tourism Board’s for this effort and I look forward to more digital transformation initiatives that will increase the tourism sector’s efficiencies and productivity,” Abdul Karim added.
On the partnership with LVG, STB Chief Executive Officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor was confident that the e-learning platform would provide the relevant information on how to promote Sarawak to international travel tour operators, especially LVG’s current subscribers which includes from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.
Under this initiative, five modules on Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) have been created to highlight the wonders of Sarawak. The modules will take participants through a detailed tour of Sarawak and make Sarawak a priority when it comes to promoting preferred destinations.
