Sabah targets more tourists from Asean
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will set new strategic directions and provide an enabling environment for industry players to help drive tourism growth, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Speaking at the launch of the B2B session between MATTA Sabah Chapter and Asean tour operators here yesterday, Liew said the State Government was targeting a diverse range of tourists visiting Sabah this year.
“We want to balance the number, not only increasing the number of Chinese tourists but also tourists from Asean countries,” the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said.
Christina stressed that the State Government would do what it takes to make the most of Sabah tourism industry and it would stand fully behind every effort to make Sabah a preferred travel destination.
According to her, Sabah recorded 1.36 million international arrivals and 2.25 million domestic arrivals last year which was a 10.2 per cent and 2.8 per cent increase respectively.
Sabah, she said, was on the right track to achieve its target of four million tourist arrivals in 2019-2023.
Speaking to the media later, Christina said that other than opening of at least three new destinations in China, the State Government would also be promoting Sabah as a preferred travel destination for travellers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
“We will be starting with ITB Berlin in March. We believe in a balanced tourism promotion, hopefully we will be able to increase tourist arrivals as what Sabah has to offer is very unique, especially to Europeans.
“I will also be able to assess the needs of the market during ITB Berlin. I believe we can do well with the assistance and support from MATTA,” she said.
Christina also expressed her gratitude to MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang for organising the B2B session in Sabah.
“All this while this type of meeting was held in KL but this time it’s in Sabah. They will be able to understand what Sabah has to offer and be able to promote our attractions when they go back to their home countries,” she said.
Also present at the event yesterday were Sabah Tourisn Board general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani and Tourism Malaysia deputy director general (promotion) Datuk Mohmed Razip Hasan.