German tour operators very impressed with Sandakan
SANDAKAN: Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan hosted a group of nine top tour operators from Munich and Frankfurt led by Tourism Malaysia Frankfurt’s marketing manager, Jose Ramirez Santoyo.
The agents who specialised mainly in leisure business, some of whom also saw some potential for incentive groups in Sandakan were very impressed with the fact that the rooms at the hotel were of excellent quality, well designed and each room had a breathtaking view, and would be a refreshing welcome by any international traveller.
The agents were marvelled at the friendly reception by the hotel’s management team, the warm and cordial hospitality granted by the leader of the sales and marketing team, Azizan Mashud and felt extremely comfortable when general manager Peter Padman conversed with them in German, which definitely maintained the international status and knowing that German travellers, some of whom spoke limited English, would not be stranded.
Besides having been to the travel lodges and actually experienced Sepilok while getting to see the Orang Utans, Michael Metzner of Tischler Reisen AG commented that this was an exhilarating adventure. Travellers from Germany have been coming to South East Asia for decades to indulge in the exotic lifestyle, beaches, food etc but eco-tourism, he added needed to be tapped into as this town was so rich in eco, culture and heritage.
The meal that was hosted by Sabah Tourism Board added a touch of quality to the group’s visit, while dining by the hotel’s infinity pool was indeed a memorable evening.
Other tour operators who travelled to Malaysia on Thai Airways International were from renowned travel companies such as Indochina Travels, Reisefieber-reisen GmbH, Gebeco, FTI Touristik GmbH & ASIEN Special Tours.
Peter added that 2017 did show a growth in the geographical source report where data supported a growth in German travellers by 17% from 2016 for the same time last year; with a positive contribution of 1,000 room nights from wholesalers. There certainly was light at the end of the tunnel in 2018 as travellers are gaining confidence about travelling into Sandakan.