Adventure mart heads to Sabah
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan, 23 September: Malaysia will host the PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart 2020 the association announced at the close of the PATA Travel Mart.
The event will be hosted in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah at the Sutera Harbour Resort 12 to 14 February 2020.
Tourism Malaysia, in partnership with Sabah Tourism Board and Malaysia Airlines, will bankroll and sponsor the mart.
Scheduled in Malaysia for the first time, the PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart (ATCM) should attract more than 200 delegates from over 25 countries.
This three-day niche event, with both conference and travel mart components, brings together tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism.
“The PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart provides an exceptional platform for travel trade professionals to gain deeper insights into adventure travel trends and contribute to creating a more responsible travel and tourism industry”, said PATA CEO Mario Hardy. “This event has enjoyed outstanding success in recent years, and we are delighted to have the opportunity for the first time to focus upon the many opportunities for adventure travel and responsible tourism in Sabah, Malaysia.”
Upon winning the bid to host the event, YB Datuk Mohamaddin bin Ketapi, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said: “Malaysia is proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to host this PATA event in Malaysia. It will be a golden opportunity for us to showcase Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, world-renowned for its nature and adventure attractions.”
Sabah is popular for outdoor activities, among them the trek to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, one of Southeast Asia’s highest peaks. Other attractions include the Sipadan island dive site with its marine biodiversity; lush rainforests and flora and fauna including the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.
A Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign gets underway in January with special events and festivals.
Sabah is situated on the island of Borneo and is the second largest of the 13 states that make up Malaysia. It shares the island with Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesian Kalimantan.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is the gateway for travellers exploring the state and is currently served by almost 100 direct international flights that connect to major cities including Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur (via Kuala Lumpur International Airport), Seoul (Korea ROK), Hong Kong SAR and Shenzhen (China), Singapore, Jakarta (Indonesia), Taipei (Chinese Taipei), Manila (Philippines), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Tokyo (Japan) and Perth (Australia).
