European tour and travel agents keen on Sabah market
BERLIN: Sabah travel agents met up with their European counterparts at the justconcluded ITB Berlin 2024 to promote the land below the wind.
Managing partner of Borneo Escapade Tours Malvin Marcus and Patricia Kitingan met up with Christine Volpert, a tour and travel agent from Germany who expressed her desire to have long-term collaboration.
“Volpert wants to expand her current market (Sumatera, Indonesia) to Borneo.
“Indonesia and Borneo have similarities in terms of cultures and traditions. Therefore, she is interested in our communitybased tourism (CoBT) which combines sightseeing and socio-economic contributions through active participation in community projects,” said Marcus who was aggressively promoting rural tourism and CoBT at the world’s largest travel trade show.
Director of Sandakan-based
Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure Johnny Lim said he had fruitful discussions with European tour and travel agents who are keen to bring holidaymakers to Sabah.
“For instance, Denmark tour and travel agents are seeking collaboration with their Sabah counterparts to bring their guests for wildlife and birdwatching activities,” he said, adding that they (agents) are attracted to the five-day and four-night Absolute Wildlife Tour that will take tourists to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Turtle Island, Gomantong Cave and Kinabatangan River Cruise.
According to Lim, agents from Spain are planning to come to Sabah in September this year for a familiarisation trip.
“They are looking to discover new destinations in Borneo.”