He said with its bountiful agricultural treasures Sarawak has the potential to offer tourists an unparalleled agrotourism experience.

“By doing so, we can increase high-yield tourists who appreciate the real essence of our land, cuisine, and traditions.

“We must recognise that this is not just about agrotourism but also about complementing it with ecotourism to further enrich the experience for our visitors,” he said.

He said this in his speech, which was read by Douglas Uggah Embas during the opening ceremony of the Sarawak Agrotourism Conference and Expo, here.

Abang Johari said agrotourism is not just a pathway to attract visitors but also meant to uplift the communities and facilitate rural development.

“Community-based tourism, an integral part of agrotourism, empowers our local residents by directly engaging them in tourism activities.

“This involvement brings not only economic benefits but also reinforces the values of preserving our farming, ecological and cultural environments,” he said.

The benefits of agrotourism extend beyond economic gains as they encompass rural development, community participation and job creation, he added.