Making AMPM Mart a one-stop centre for tourists
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said that local businesses in the state should leverage on the influx of tourists to Sabah.
Citing the massive number of flights coming in from China to the state, Masidi stressed that it is vital for local businesses to promote their products to the tourists, in a bid to boost the state’s revenue as a whole. It was understood that there are over 175 international flights arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) every week, and 79 of those flights are from China. On top of that, during summer (July to August), China will have an extra 28 direct flights to Sabah.
“The arrival of these tourists to our country would have little impact to our state if we fail to leverage on their arrival. We have to make sure that they spend money in Sabah. We cannot expect them to come here just to enjoy a bottle of soft drink per day.
“We have to make sure that they take our Nasi Lemak, Kuey Teow, seafood and other activities that can generate income for the service provider.
“This is the direction that we should be taking. To create more services in Sabah that will make tourists feel that they should stay longer here. The more services you provide, the longer they will stay in Sabah,” Masidi said at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at AMPM Mart, Kolombong yesterday.
He stressed that if the tourists were to stay in the state longer, everyone will be able to benefit from it, from hotels, taxi drivers, hawkers and many more.
Therefore, the state must shift their focus. The state should not only focus on ‘five-star’ premises but also on other sectors, Masidi said.
“It is important for us to spread the revenue statewide. We should not only focus on hotels,” he explained.
The MoU signing ceremony marked the collaboration between AMPM Mart, which is a company under Good Move Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), Prime Ventures and KL Valley Reflexology Centre.
The MoU was aimed at solidifying AMPM Mart as a tourist one-stop retail destination where one can get everything that Sabah has to offer, coupled with great quality at an affordable price.
AMPM Mart is set to offer a blend of wet and dry market products, satisfying local hawker foods and beverages, seafood products and restaurants, local handmade souvenirs as well as other services that celebrate the Sabahan multi-racial culture.
Also present at yesterday’s event were Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, Good Move Director Connie Lee, Good Vibe Managing Director CK Lee, MITA President Uzaidi Udanis, Prime Ventures Director Vincent Tey and KL Valley Reflexology Centre Director Datuk Derek Teng.