The Sarawak government is making efforts to bring a renowned US artiste to perform in the state in October, according to a state minister.
However, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the minister for tourism, creative industry, and performing arts, did not identify the performer.
He said large-scale concerts would attract visitors from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Brunei.
“If there is an event in Kuching which involves artistes or entertainers which those from the neighbouring countries know, we can see an increase in vehicles entering Sarawak via the border,” he was quoted as saying.
Karim said when Indonesian songstress Hetty Koes Endang performed in the state, it led to a three-day congestion at the border checkpoint complex in Tebedu, with visitors travelling from Kalimantan.
Karim said three concerts are expected to be held in Miri next month involving Indonesian artistes and the events are expected to bring in visitors from neighbouring countries.
Last year, Singapore’s tourism officials said six sold-out concerts by Coldplay and Taylor Swift had “generated substantial economic benefits … with spillover effects to adjacent tourism industries such as retail, dining and hotels”.
