09Feb

Sabah police to increase road and sea patrols during CNY season

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police will be increasing road and sea patrols during this festive season in view of the coming Chinese New Year celebrations. Sabah CID chief Datuk Salehhudin Abd Rahman said road patrols would be conducted in hotspots at every district in the state, while sea patrols would be carried out on small and private boats. He said these patrols involving almost 300 policemen were to ensure the safety of the community as they anticipate more traffic during this festive season. Salehhudin said this on Thursday when launching the 12th Ops Selamat here which will run from Feb 9 to 23 this year. Ops Selamat will also involve other security agencies such as firemen, and civil defence officials among others. "We want to ensure that this festive season would be a safe and happy one for everyone," he said, adding that road users must observe proper driving etiquettes while on the road and adhere to traffic regulations at all times. Salehhudin said most accidents are caused by motorists who are inconsiderate, selfish and refuse to follow traffic rules. Meanwhile, he also reminded home owners who will be leaving during the festive season to inform the authorities and neighbours to ensure the safety of their homes. Salehhudin also reminded the public to keep their houses padlocked, and important documents stored properly to reduce risks of break-ins or thefts. He said the number of break-ins during the Chinese New Year period in 2017 was at 81 cases compared to 63 in 2016, for the same period. "This is an increase of 18 cases," he said. Source: The Star Online
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05Feb

Sabah needs more hotels to cater to tourist influx

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has expressed concern over the insufficient number of hotel rooms to accommodate the growing number of tourists to the State in the future. Its Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun (pic) said as the State was enjoying encouraging numbers in tourism receipts, the State Government feared its promotional efforts would be an exercise in futility. "There are limitations to promote Sabah as we do not want the tourists to pitch up tents simply because we do not have enough rooms (for them). "If there are not enough hotels, in the future, we will definitely have a big problem. Eventually, growth will become a plateau if the State tourism's growth does not equal the availability of hotel rooms," he told reporters after opening a Taiwan-based café, Camaco Gelato Concept Café, here, Sunday. Masidi said his Ministry, through its agencies such as the Sabah Tourism Board, was striving to ensure that there were enough hotels to meet future demands. He said the State recorded RM7.25 billion in tourism receipt in 2016 and expected last year's (2017) numbers to hit the RM7.7 billion mark. On the cafe, Masidi said Camaco's decision in setting up an outlet here was a manifestation of the company's confidence in the business climate of the State Capital and its growing sophistication. With 14 foreign airlines flying to Kota Kinabalu and 178 flights per week, of them 84 from China alone, he said it clearly showed the growing number of flights was a manifestation of tourist confidence in city's ability to grow. Source: Daily Express
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01Feb

Xiamen Airlines makes inaugural Beijing-KK flight

KOTA KINABALU: Chinese tourist arrivals in Sabah will be boosted as Xiamen Airlines has opened the state to the northern China market with its inaugural direct flight from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu.
The airline made Kota Kinabalu its first international destination from Beijing and expects more tourists from the city and northern China to travel to Sabah, in addition to those from the southern and central parts of the country.
"We expect the new route to contribute to the growing demand of Chinese and expatriate holiday-makers to Sabah," said Ou Dong Ying, the airlines' vice president for its Beijing operations.
Xiamen Airlines has been operating direct flights from Fuzhou in central China to Kota Kinabalu since Jan 2017, with an average 80% load on their Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
State Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun arrived together with Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya on the inaugural flight from Beijing.
"Tourists from north China can now fly in directly without having to transit," he said on arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The Sabah Tourism Board also gave a traditional welcome to tourists who got off the plane.
"There will be a strong exchange of visitors that will foster good people-to-people relations between Sabah and China," he said, adding that about 40 chartered flights from China are expected over the next three months.
Sabah had 3.65 million Chinese visitors last year, a record increase of 430,000 visitors or more than 14% compared to 2016. The value of tourism receipts was estimated as RM7.7bil.
Masidi said with such a high number of tourist arrivals, the state cabinet had asked several companies to build more hotels to cater to the growing needs of tourists.
Source: The Star
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29Jan

Sabah Tourism expects higher receipts from growing MICE market

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism board has established the Convention Bureau Unit to tap business opportunities from the state’s growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market. In a statement on Saturday, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the unit was created in anticipation of the completion of the world-class Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) next year. “The convention centre will allow the board to focus on the MICE market, which would earn Sabah more tourism receipts. “The importance and strength of this new segment of the tourism industry must be built up from now,” he added. Masidi also announced Gordon Yapp’s appointment as chief executive officer of the Sabah Convention Bureau. Yapp is a long-serving officer of the board and is retiring as General Manager this month. He will assist the owner of SICC and work towards securing more business for Sabah. Meanwhile, Suzaini Sabdin Ghani has been promoted to become general manager, from her current post as the board’s deputy general manager in marketing. Suzaini has more than 20 years of experience as a senior employee of an international hotel chain, and has spearheaded the transformation of the board’s marketing strategies to become more focused, results-oriented, and with lower marketing expenses. “For the last two years, we have been working hard to transform the board, striving for excellence by embracing the (private sector’s strong) work ethics and culture. “Information and Communications Technology is now a vital component of the board’s new marketing strategy. Marketing costs are lower, but the results are much better,” Masidi added. Source: New Straits Times
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22Jan

New Sabah International Convention Centre to be completed in 10 months

KOTA KINABALU: The state’s upcoming new landmark, the Sabah International Convention Centre, is expected to be ready within 10 months, says Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman. “The construction is still ongoing and we hope it will be completed according to schedule. “The centre will be timely for us, as it can host meetings, conferences and exhibitions even at international level, as the state currently lacks a huge venue for these events,” he said, adding the state government has extended its gratitude to the federal government over the RM250 million contribution for the centre. Musa was speaking to reporters after inspecting the construction progress at the site. Also present were state cabinet ministers, Yayasan Sabah Group director Datuk Sapawi Ahmad, members of the Sabah Chamber of Commerce, and the Sabah Chinese Chambers Association. He added besides exhibitors and performers, the centre will also provide job opportunities for locals. The centre, owned by state-operated Yayasan Sabah, will have a 20,400 square exhibition area including the hall, 22 meeting rooms, an open plaza for outdoor exhibitions, as well as a convention hall. Its two-tier performing arts hall can cater for 1,200 audiences, four simultaneous interpretation booths, built-in stage with technologically advanced audio visual and stage lighting, rehearsal room and ample holding storage. Source: New Straits Times
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