Copyright dayakdaily
by DayakDaily Team KUCHING, Oct 29: Sarawak is looking to strengthen ties with Spain’s Catalonia government in tourism, cultural heritage and creative industry following a series of high-level meetings held in Barcelona this week. Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah led the delegation which included Deputy Ministers Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Datuk Dr Ripin Bin Lamat, together with MTCP Permanent Secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini, Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Permanent Secretary Morshidi Fredrick, MTCP Special Administrative Officer Datu Rashidah Bolhassan and senior ministry officers. During the visits, Abdul Karim met with Minister of Economy and Finance of the Government of Catalonia Alícia Romero Llano to explore opportunities for collaboration in sustainable growth driven by culture, tourism and creative industry development. Both Ministers shared the view that creativity and heritage can be powerful economic drivers when supported by strong community participation and cultural identity. Abdul Karim noted that Sarawak and Catalonia share many similarities with both enjoying a degree of regional autonomy within their respective nations. Both governments prioritise inclusive development that values cultural diversity, creativity and community well-being. This shared perspective provides a strong foundation for long-term cooperation in culture-led sustainable growth. Abdul Karim also held a meeting with Director General of Cultural Heritage at the Department of Culture Joaquim Borràs Gómez. The discussion focused on heritage management, conservation framework and community participation in safeguarding cultural assets. Both sides expressed interest in professional exchanges between museums and creative practitioners and in joint efforts to document and promote shared cultural values. In a separate meeting with Director of the Catalan Tourism Agency Arantxa Calvera, the delegation was introduced to Catalonia’s Marketing Strategy 2024–2028 themed “From Volume to Value”, which prioritises sustainable and high-value tourism. Guided by the principle that “no destination is successful if its residents are not happy,” Catalonia’s approach combines environmental, socio-cultural and economic goals to ensure tourism benefits both visitors and locals. The region welcomed 19.9 million international visitors in 2024, a 9.7 per cent increase from the previous year. In response, Abdul Karim said Sarawak shared this vision of people-centred, sustainable tourism. “Our approach in Sarawak is to build tourism that uplifts communities, preserves heritage and inspires creativity. Catalonia’s model shows how culture, sustainability and innovation can move together. There’s much we can learn from each other,” he said. He also highlighted the connection between Kuching and Barcelona through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with Kuching recognised as a City of Gastronomy and Barcelona as a City of Literature. The shared platform, he added, opens possibilities for collaboration in culinary and literary exchanges, creative residencies and festivals celebrating innovation, culture and sustainability. Both sides agreed to continue exploring opportunities for cooperation in areas such as knowledge exchange, cultural diplomacy, creative entrepreneurship and the promotion of heritage-based growth in smaller towns and rural areas. The visit concluded with a shared understanding that stronger ties between Sarawak and Catalonia can generate mutual benefits through creativity, culture and tourism, and contribute to building more inclusive and sustainable futures for both regions. —DayakDaily
