Sabah to have world-class KK Resort City
SUNDUVON Corporation Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of KTS Group, is poised to develop the world-class KK Resort City on an island in Lok Kawi. Sunduvon acquired the land, approximately 15km south of Kota Kinabalu, in the 1990s. Subsequent reclamation works have turned the area into an island.
The island will begin its transformation into a world-class vacation destination – KK Resort City. KTS Group is honoured to have Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal officiate at the significant groundbreaking ceremony. Federal and State cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, assistant ministers, members of parliament, state assemblymen, government officers, and community leaders also a ended the event yesterday.
Iconic mega resort city
KK Resort City will be developed on an area of more than 300 acres. The iconic mixed development integrates tourism, business, and residential projects spread across the mainland and islands.
With a view of the beach and wide expanses of the South China Sea, the waterfront leisure and entertainment township will allow tourists to enjoy picturesque scenery and diverse water activities.
The Lok Kawi Island masterplan was designed by renowned Australian architect Philip Cox, who drew on the concept of Malaysian coastal villages and tropical lifestyle to create a contemporary development.
Statistics show that Sabah is the second most visited destination in Malaysia. Last year, the State a racted more than 3.88 million international tourists, most of whom visited Kota Kinabalu, lured in by our beautiful islands, diverse marine life, magnificent Mount Kinabalu, and enchanting spectacle of fireflies.
In view of the increasing tourist arrivals, KTS Group has decided to capitalise on the natural assets of Sabah by developing the fullyintegrated tourism, business, and residential township.
KK Resort City will offer a range of accommodation, including five-star hotel, three- and four-star boutique hotels, water villa resort, luxury villas, condominiums, and townhouses.
Once completed, the convention centre and function rooms available within KK Resort City will cater for a variety of events such as celebrations, banquets, meetings, exhibition, trade fairs and concerts.
Waterfront infrastructure and facilities are an integral part of the development. With a pier for yachts and sailboats, marina club, manmade beach, lagoon, and waterfront promenade, tourists will enjoy thrilling water sports, island tours, scuba diving, and diving activities.
Meanwhile, retail shops in the precinct will serve as an ideal location for franchise stores, tour agents and water sports operators to establish and expand their customer base. The mega KK Resort City development is expected to be completed in 30 years.
Sabah’s tourism has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Tourist arrivals have tripled from 1.1 million in 2002 to 3.6 million in 2017. Last year’s 3.88 million tourists to the State brought in RM8.3 billion in receipts.
Records last December further showed that there were 125 direct flights weekly from China to Kota Kinabalu International Airport. It is expected that tourist arrivals to Sabah will hit 11.8 million by 2032.
Project to boost tourism, economy
KK Resort City is expected to boost Sabah’s tourism development and economic growth.
“I am thrilled to learn that an East Malaysia-based company, KTS Group, is planning to invest billions of ringgit into this development,” said Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui.
With tourist arrivals set to double in the next few years, Lui said the development would ease the shortage of accommodation in Sabah, particularly for five- to sixstar hotels and resorts.
He pointed out Kota Kinabalu is losing out to Mantanani Island and Semporna due to the lack of new tourism products.
“I believe KK Resort City will a ract more new and repeat visitors to the state capital.”
For locals, Lui said KK Resort City will be a new leisure and recreation spot when completed.
New opportunities
In addition, he said this mega development would create at least 1,000 professional jobs for local youths. He said KK Resort City as a seafront project has great potential to develop downstream tourism products, such as a theme park and other tourism packages. Lui also hoped that KTS Group would invest in the vocational training of local youths in this project, especially for the hospitality and services sector.
He suggested bringing in international higher learning institutions in the development to provide tourism-related education and training.
“Several international universities, including Curtin University, have been established in Sarawak but Sabah has yet to have an international higher learning institution,” he said.
“Having a university within KK Resort City will not only a ract local and foreign students, but also their families as they send their children off to study or to a end graduations, which benefits our tourism industry.”
Lui said retail outlets in the development would create business opportunities for local entrepreneurs, in particular local gi s shops and handicra makers.
“We are hoping that KTS Group will include a walking street in the project as well given that there has yet to be one in Kota Kinabalu.”
Pu ing Sabah on the map
The multi-billion ringgit KK Resort City is poised to be an iconic tourism development that will put Sabah on the map.
Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chapter chairman Lawrence Wong said the investment would augur well for the expanding inbound tourism segment in the State, which ranked among the top in Malaysia.
“The Land Below the Wind is a tourism heaven because we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources and shielded from natural disasters,” he said.
He said Sabah was only five to six hours away by flight to countries in Asia.
“We have great potential to develop various tourism packages due to the State’s strategic location. Once completed, I believe the KK Resort City project will spur the tourism industry in the region,” he said.
“An international standard resort will be a nice addition to the tourism infrastructure and facilities in Sabah.”
He hoped that the five-star KK Resort City and its facilities would entice upscale tourists to spend more, thereby boosting tourism receipts. The development will also create job opportunities for locals as well as stimulate the construction and hardware sectors.
“KK Resort City will put Sabah on the map, like Maldives, which is famous for its luxury accommodation,” he added.