On 15 February 2018 a contingent from UCSI University Kuching Campus and UCSI Hotel made a  courtesy call to YB Datuk Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Youth and Sports Sarawak.

During their visit, Mukvinder Sandhu, the Chief Operating Officer of UCSI Kuching Campus, along with Professor Kashif Hussain, the Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management UCSI University, Bernard Jussem, lecturer and MyCenthe Sarawak/Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Coordinator UCSI University, and David Liew, the Resident Manager of UCSI Hotel met with Dr. Bolhan Bin Budeng, the Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak.

The purpose of their visit was two-fold; firstly to develop a strategic alliance with the Ministry toward bringing the Hospitality and Tourism industry in Sarawak to greater heights and secondly, to introduce Mr. David Liew, the Resident Manager of UCSI Hotel, highlighting the urban resort atmosphere as well as the strategic collaborative potential of UCSI Hotel.

The discussion proved to be fruitful and robust, resulting in many opportunities for UCSI Kuching Campus, UCSI Hotel and the Ministry to co-organise events and competitions related to the RCE, the Next Big Chef Competition, Next Paradise Homestay, Tourism Futures Forum, Think Tank, and UCSI Hotel hosted state level activities and events.

The RCE will continue to be co-organised and actively supported by UCSI Sarawak Campus and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports. The RCE, as a cross-sector network of organisations, is committed to using education as a tool to promote sustainability. Through various new projects, UCSI Kuching Campus along with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports will be impacting the tourism industry and the natural environment of Sarawak, spring boarding a great number of events and research studies.

The Tourism Futures Forum is in the process of being organised and will consist of international panelists who will share their views of the future transformation of the tourism industry. Again, this event will be co-organised by UCSI Kuching Campus and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports. UCSI Kuching Campus faculty will also be involved in various innovative endeavours with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports will also be looking into the possibility of having UCSI Hotel and UCSI Sarawak Campus becoming more involved in co-organising and hosting upcoming state level festivals and events.

With collaborations like this between UCSI University Kuching Campus, UCSI Hotel and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, the local tourism, arts, culture, youth and sports scenes will soar to new heights with anticipated regional and international events and festivals.