05Jun

Promoting Sabah as a whole for tourism industry – Liew

TAWAU: The district is in for some major changes as efforts to develop tourism industry in the state will not be concentrated in a few major areas such as Mount Kinabalu or Sipadan island but the whole of Sabah in line with the increasing number of tourist arrivals, especially from China. Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said effort should be put into the venture to promote other places and to make the state a holistic tourist destination. She said Tawau should no longer label itself as a transit point but capitalize on getting tourists visiting nearby Semporna to stay there as part of the tour. “I am looking for a plan to set up a cultural market in the district which will be part of the tourism attraction apart from what we already have,” she said. Christina, who is also the state’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the market concept will introduce the various cultures and she will discuss the matter with the district municipal council’s president soon. “At the same time I am going to meet up with tourism operators around the state to see if Sabah as a whole can be made as a tourism venue,” she added. Christina however stressed that beautification and setting up of infrastructures to accommodate tourists is needed if the effort is implemented. She said both the district and Sandakan have the attractions needed to lure in tourists but additional infrastructures such as hotels, chalets and other forms of accommodation are lacking.   Source : The Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, , , , , , Comments Off
Read more...
05Jun

Sabah has facilities, attractions to cater to European, Asian tourists, says state minister.

TAWAU— The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is planning to promote the state to Asian and European tourists as it has the facilities and attractions to cater for both tourist criteria. Minister, Christina Liew said she was briefed on the different requirements, especially by European and Asian tourists pertaining to their tour plan, adding the state could accommodate both demands. “Both ‘demands’ are being pursued to ensure that the one-million tourist target set for Sabah can be achieved. “The ministry will promote Sabah as a tourist destination with more packages to ensure that different requirements of the tourists are met and the industry will continue to thrive,” she told a press conference here today.   Source : The Malay Mail
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...
05Jun

Liew wants to create more tourism hotspots in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Newly-appointed Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew wants to create hotspots in focus areas, such as Sandakan and Tawau, that have potential to draw in tourists to further boost the sector. Liew, who is also Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said such efforts to further boost the growth of the tourism industry in the two districts would also help residents generate income and improve the local economy as well as providing job opportunities. Citing Tawau as an example, she said the setting up of a visitors' hotspot would enable Tawau to be not merely a transit location for tourists before proceeding to Semporna. “Hence, hotspot locations should be created including making Tawau a hub for cheap and fresh seafood to entice tourists to stay there for two or three days before heading elsewhere,” she told reporters after attending the state Cabinet meeting chaired by new Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at the State Administrative Centre. Liew said she would meet with heads of department under her ministry next week to obtain more information on the development of the tourism sector in Sabah. On another note, Liew, who is also Api Api assemblyman and Tawau MP, assured the people of Sabah that she would do her best as well as fulfil her manifesto aspirations by being transparent and responsible with the mandate given to her. — Bernama Source : The Star Online
By Inside KePKAS, , , , , , Comments Off
Read more...
05Jun

Christina finds her tourism ministry job interesting, challenging.

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew, is finding her ministry interesting and challenging. She also said that she needs to have more understanding concerning her ministry and to know about the role she has to play. “I like this job. It is challenging. I also found out there are some events I must attend and cannot delegate to others,” she told press members who waited outside her office to witness her clocking in as the new Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister. She also said that she trusts her officers will assist her in the next five years. Liew also explained that she looks after three areas in her ministry: tourism, culture and environment. In addition, she also has to play her role as the Api-Api state assemblywoman, as member of parliament for Tawau, and as the Deputy Chief Minister. With her plate filled to the brim, one wonders how she would cope. When asked, Liew simply replied: “It boils down to time management.” Liew also shared the ministry’s plans to continue its promotional plan to attract more Chinese tourists and Europeans to come to Sabah. She also said that she plans to turn Sandakan and Tawau into tourist attractions as the two regions do not benefit from tourism at all. “Tourism should not be confined to Kota Kinabalu only,” she said. Meanwhile, Liew announced that she is no longer a practising lawyer. She told press members that effective yesterday (22 May), she has quit her job as a practising lawyer. “I have informed the Sabah Law Society,” she said, adding that this was her pledge in her manifesto. She also said that she has practised law for 20 years. Source : The Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, , , , Comments Off
Read more...
08Mar

Kadamaian Tourism Association Courtesy Call

  YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah received a courtesy call from Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA) on 6 March 2018. KATA is one of the rural tourism association which is actively promoting tourism destinations around Sabah especially attractions found at Kadamaian. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah telah menerima Kunjungan Hormat daripada Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA)  kelmarin (6/3/2018). KATA merupakan antara persatuan pelancongan luar bandar yang sangat aktif untuk mempromosikan destinasi-destinasi pelancongan yang menarik di Sabah terutamanya produk-produk pelancongan yang ada di Kadamaian. 
By Minister on the move, Comments Off
Read more...