KUCHING, Sept. 26 -- The number tourist arrivals in Sarawak had dropped by about 86 per cent in August this year, as a result of the policies that were implemented to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Abdul Karim noted that Sarawak only recorded tourist arrivals of 44,156 in August this year compared with 338,130 arrivals recorded in the same period last year.

"Normally July and August are the months we will received many tourists but it was not the case this year.

"We see a drop of 86.94 per cent just for August alone," he told reporters after witnessing the transportation of a burial pole, kelidieng, belong to the Melanau at the Sarawak Museun Complex compound here...