Author - jessica

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry provided 76 out of 120 places of the Spa Apprenticeship Course to potential participants under the 1AZAM programme. According to Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim , to qualify for the course, the participants' parents must be registered and listed with the e-Kasih system. An initiative of the Low-Income Households (LIH) NKRA  under the GTP , the 1AZAM programme is coordinated in Sabah by the Agriculture and Food Industries ministry. Jahid, represented by his deputy permanent secretary Haji Awang Damit, was at the graduation ceremony for 23 participants who completed their Spa and Therapy Complementary course conducted by Jari Jari Spa Training Academy. The LIH NKRA findings showed that there was a shortage of skilled workers, in particular, low number of local workers and training facilities for the spa therapist's position. Jahid said the Government together with the Tourism Ministry was planning to create 500 qualified local spa therapists to replace foreign therapists by the end of 2013. “The initiative supported the Government's goal to provide employment opportunities to the people via relocation of jobs filled by the foreign workers. According to Jahid, the spa and wellness industry was booming and had contributed positively to the growth of the economy and the tourism industry. “Spa therapists are likely to witness a positive boost in job opportunities in Malaysia by 2013.” Source : The Star

KOTA KINABALU: The north Asia market, namely China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, remained as key market source for overall international arrivals into the state, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun. Speaking to reporters after launching the 15th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta 2012 at Karamunsing Complex yesterday, he said although the number of visitors to Sabah from January to September registered a marginal growth of only 0.1 per cent, international arrivals from the least expected countries, namely north Asia, had gone up. “Compared to the same period in 2011, China and Hong Kong increased by 44.3 per cent from 103,340 to 149,104, while South Korea increased by 21.5 per cent from 48,439 to 58,871. “Singapore increased by 12.8 per cent from 16,962 to 19,135, Indonesia by air increased by 81.9 per cent from 10,476 to 19,060, while Scandinavian countries namely Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden increased by 43.6 per cent from 4,436 to 6,368,” he said. Masidi added that the UK and Ireland increased by 35.7 per cent, Germany by 74.1 per cent, France by 73.0 per cent, North America by 15.4 per cent and overall European countries by 45.6 per cent this year. He admitted that Sabah expected to register a marginal increase which is less than the target set for this year due to the drop of seat capacity, and also competitive airfares for the peninsular outbound market. “Seat capacity has gone down because it was taken by European countries who are using Kuala Lumpur to transit to Sabah. Apart from that, when direct flights from Perth and Japan to Kota Kinabalu were stopped, the Japanese and Australians were still coming to Sabah via Kuala Lumpur. “When they take up the seats available from Kuala Lumpur to Sabah, there are less seats for domestic travelers. With the attractive cheap promotion packages overseas through Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysians prefer to travel outside Malaysia because the tickets are cheaper compared to flying to Sabah,” he said. Masidi said it was something that the tourism industry in Sabah could not avoid because the airlines were in business. However, despite the downtrend on international tourist arrivals, Masidi said it was surprising when arrivals from the least expected countries, especially north Asia, had gone up. “Although the real numbers are small, it is a significant change of tourist arrival, and that is good for the industry. With the economic problem in North America and Europe, the trend still shows that the situation has not stopped people from traveling. “The announcement of favorable news from airlines is hoped to improve the number of arrivals. Among the good news for the industry is the increase of direct flights from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu starting December — nine from Malaysia Airlines (MAS), 10 AirAsia and six Dragonair. “Starting December also, we are looking at daily flights from Kota Kinabalu to Guangzhou and thrice weekly flights by MAS to Shanghai and Osaka. The airline is also finalizing the Kota Kinabalu to Tokyo flights,” he said. Masidi added that with MAS’ decision to start its flight to Perth from Kota Kinabalu by end of December, it would be Sabah’s duty to ensure all seats were filled. Source : Borneo Post

KOTA KINABALU: Orangutan conservation and research is given a boost with the setting up of the Sabah Orangutan Conservation Alliance (SOCA). Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said the SOCA would coordinate orangutan conservation and research efforts in Sabah, implement and monitor the Orangutan Action Plan, advise the government on orangutan conservation issues, share information on orangutans and promote orangutan conservation in Sabah by raising awareness nationally and globally. “We will prepare a cabinet paper on the setting up of SOCA and we will bring it to the utmost attention of the State Cabinet. We hope that SOCA can be rapidly established,” he said at an orangutan conservation dialogue at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Tuaran.    More than 80 participants were invited to discuss the implementation of the strategies and objectives highlighted in the Orangutan Action Plan 2012-2016 launched last January and set up the SOCA. The Sabah Wildlife Department organised the dialogue. “We recognised that the time for conversation was over, that it was time for conservation,” said Ambu. “It is time for the oil palm industry to acknowledge that there are problems and take the necessary measures to address the issues of forest fragmentation and clearings of riparian forests in Sabah, as well as orangutan killings currently happening in palm oil estates in Kalimantan,” stressed Ambu. He pointed out the problems in the Kinabatangan were also addressed. “We have identified approaches to maintain viable wildlife populations in the Kinabatangan. Orangutans are also found outside protected forests in the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain. Our recent analysis of satellite images have shown that 25,000 ha of such forests still remain. “If we want to secure the orangutan population in Kinabatangan we cannot afford to lose another hectare of forest. We asked the government to call for a moratorium on forest conversion in the Kinabatangan and to recreate forest connection in areas where riparian forests have been converted,” added Ambu. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun gave his support for rehabilitation and protection of riparian reserves in his speech at the closing ceremony. “River reserves are strictly not to be used for any plantation development. Maybe many plantation owners did not know that riparian reserves are protected and must remain under natural forest. These reserves must be rehabilitated and if they had been encroached on, actions will be taken,” stressed Masidi. Also addressing a zero tolerance of wildlife killings in oil palm plantations, Masidi said: “I would like to call the plantation owners to sign an agreement adopting a zero tolerance of wildlife (and especially orangutans) killings in their respective estates. Orangutans are totally protected in Sabah and anyone killing one must be prosecuted.” Source : Borneo Post  

A MALAYSIAN International Native Orchid Show and a Garden Landscape Festival have been planned to be held here and at the Sabah Agriculture Park in Tenom, respectively, in October next year, as part of the effort to promote agrotourism. Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, Datuk Bobbey Suan, said the two events, which are currently in the planning stages, will further enhance the State's agrotourism development and its trickle effect will benefit the tourism sector in general. Replying to Gum-Gum Assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Edris during the question-and- answer session, Bobbey said the Ministry is well aware of the agrotourism potential and has made it one of its development priorities to promote and encourage this as part of product diversification. He said among the various agrotourism products that have been developed by the Ministry through its departments and agencies include Sabah Agriculture Park which was developed by the Agriculture Department, Tagal System developed throughout Sabah under the Fisheries Department, Wetland Agro-Tourism Development at Weston Wetland Park in Weston by Ko-Nelayan, Keningau Livestock Farm by the Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industries (Dovsai), as well as various other agricultural activities like mushroom industry in Mesilau, goat rearing in Papar and bee farming in Matunggong which have already been developed as part of agro-tourism packages. Each of these agrotourism products developed by the Ministry offers a variety of activities that can attract tourists, he said, adding Sabah Agriculture Park in Lagud Sebrang, Tenom held three annual events which have already been included in the Sabah Tourism Board calendar, namely the Anniversary Carnival held every March, Flowers Festival every August and Baa...ke Taman kita every December. For promotional purposes, he said, the park is also actively participating in exhibitions held at the State, national and international levels, like the Harvest Festival, Kalimaran Festival, Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day, Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) in Serdang, Selangor, Sabah International Expo 2012 and Singapore International Orchid Conference 2011. For sub-sector breeding farms, he said, the livestock farm owned by Dovsai in Keningau has been specifically designed to attract tourists to visit its dairy farm, deer farm and the swiftlets breeding and rehabilitation farm. Bobbey said the tagal system is a unique, popular and most successful agrotourism product for the State, attracting local and foreign tourists, as they can bathe or play with a very docile Pelian fish to an extent of holding it. He said the tagal system at Luanti Baru in Ranau, which was started in 2006, to date has attracted 200,000 tourists. The success of the tagal system founded by local communities has motivated the development of 25 others in Tuaran, Kota Belud, Penampang, Papar, Keningau, Nabawan and Tenom. The Weston Wetland Park (WWP) agrotourism product offers river cruising activity to see the flora and fauna around the wetlands, he said, adding food packages, lodging and fishing activities held in collaboration with local residents are also available. He said last year the park received 3,500 tourists, while up until July this year 3,400 tourists had visited the park. "Agrotourism has a great potential to generate lucrative income for the State and because of this the Ministry will continue striving to boost this industryÉthe strategies to be implemented is to combine the existing agrotourism with other tourism products," he said. To enhance the attractiveness of the Sabah Agriculture Park in Tenom, he said tourist programmes can be packaged with a visit to Butterfly Park and Rafflesia Centre along Tambunan road, the panoramic rice cultivation in Tambunan and Keningau, cattle and deer farm in Keningau, Tenom coffee enterprises, Murut cultural center, white water rafting and the tourists can also have a stroll at Tenom Gorge on their return using the train. He said the package to Kinabalu can also be combined under one package with the tamu at Mile 24, Kinabalu National Park, War Memorial Park, highland vegetable planting, planting flowers and mushroom enterprise in Kundasang, Tagal in New Luanti, Sabah Tea Plantation and Poring Hot Springs in Ranau. "Many more agrotourism packages can be created, particularly in the fishing industry in the East Coast. Efforts are being made in the form of understanding and cooperation with tour agents in Sabah to make agrotourism products as part of tourist destinations," he said. Source : Daily Express