Sarawak is set to welcome 1,000 delegates from across Southeast Asia at the 3rd Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference 2026, taking place from 13 to 15 October 2026 at the Kingwood Hotel in Sibu. Following the success of the inaugural conference in Kuching in 2024, this year’s event, held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, aims to strengthen regional guiding standards while positioning Sarawak as a premier destination for impact-driven business events. Organised by the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association in collaboration with the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council and supported by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the conference will focus on addressing industry challenges and enhancing collaboration among tourism frontliners in Southeast Asia.
Under Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, the state targets a 7.5% annual growth in visitor arrivals by 2030. Achieving this requires not only attracting tourists but ensuring high-quality experiences. Tourist guides, as cultural ambassadors and storytellers, play a critical role in delivering authentic and impactful visitor experiences. However, the profession faces new challenges, including the rise of digital and AI-driven travel tools, evolving visitor expectations, and a shortage of qualified guides.
The Honourable Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, emphasised the importance of quality experiences alongside visitor growth, stating that tourist guides are the frontline in shaping how Sarawak is understood and remembered. The conference will provide a dedicated platform for professional development, while accelerating the training of Registered Regional Specific Tourist Guides and Sarawak Park Guides, ensuring a strong and future-ready talent pipeline.
Edwin Lim, Honorary Chairman of the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association, highlighted the growing demands on tourist guides in a digital world and the importance of regional collaboration to elevate the profession. Sibu was chosen as the host city to promote inclusive tourism development, creating opportunities and distributing the benefits of tourism across Sarawak. Jason Tan Chin Foo, Acting CEO of BESarawak, added that business events today must deliver impact, and this conference strengthens regional networks, fosters high-value tourism, and positions Sarawak as a legacy-driven business events hub in Malaysia and Borneo.
Delegates will also engage in an immersive outdoor learning experience, including cultural exchanges and community-based tourism activities, offering firsthand insight into preserving cultural identity and delivering authentic visitor experiences.
For more information about the 3rd Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference 2026, visit https://www.sktga.org/.