19Feb

Suitable approach to bring tourists to Tawau

TAWAU: A suitable approach will be taken to bring more tourists, especially from China, to this district, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (pic). According to her, who is also the Tawau MP, the matter has become her priority in an effort to further boost the economy in the district for the benefit of its population. “I will indeed work harder to ensure more tourists, especially from China, visit the east coast area (of Sabah) to spend one or two nights in Tawau,” she said at the Chinese New Year celebration of Tawau constituency, here, Sunday night.   Hence, she added tourism agencies and tour operators of the State were urged to play a role and work together in order to realise this wish. According to her, this district has interesting tourist attractions, handicraft and cultural products and a wide selection of seafood. Speaking on the event, Liew said the Chinese New Year that was celebrated across the country is among the events that could help to unite the nation of different races and religions. “Malaysia, in particular Sabah, has many celebrations according to local beliefs and celebrated together, which also proves that we live in harmony,” she added. - Bernama Source: Daily Express
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18Feb

Govt-NGO initiative to protect pangolins

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government through the Sabah Wildlife Department is working on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding with an animal welfare non-governmental organisation to protect pangolins in Sabah. Deputy Chief Minister cum State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the State Government via the Department is consistently taking steps to preserve protected animals in the State, including pangolins. She said this after officiating a Sabah – World Pangolin Day Gala Dinner in conjunction with the pangolin conservation awareness campaign held at the Hilton Hotel, here, Saturday.   The event was sponsored by Malaysian-born philanthropist, Peter Chan, who now resides in the United States, and is passionate about lending a helping hand to Sabah’s wildlife conservation programmes. “Our effort in protecting the pangolin will not stop here. The observance of the World Pangolin Day is set to pave the way for bigger things to crystallise,” said Liew. “Suffice for me to say that we are still at the discussion stage over Chan’s Pangolin Conservation Initiative. “If everything goes as planned, we should be seeing the establishment of the much-anticipated Sabah Pangolin Sanctuary and Research Institute or as Chan calls it, Sapsari,” she said.   Liew explained that they still have to go through the legal procedures and the drafts on the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding. “This will then have to go to the Attorney-General Office, before I can present it to the Cabinet for the government to decide, it will be a process that takes some time, but we have to do it as soon as we can,” she said. She also urged the relevant authorities to raid eateries serving pangolin meat to tourists and welcomes tip-off from the public on such activities. Over the years, numerous steps have been by the State Government including to set up a policy to protect wildlife and their natural habitat.   The government has even listed pangolins as a fully protected animal under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and raised the maximum fine to RM250,000 or a minimum imprisonment term of up to five years or both. Laws has been set in place yet just last week, RM8.4 million worth of pangolins were seized by the authorities during a raid at a warehouse in Tamparuli, a town located barely an hours’ drive from the State capital. It was learnt that rescued pangolins that initially survived the ordeal were sent to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, but it was no promptly established if all the pangolins made it alive. Immediately after that, another 23 pangolins were rescued during a road block operation at the Kemabong-Tenom Road. The live pangolins were found in nylon sacks in the rear bonnet of a car driven by a 40-year-old man from Lawas. This took place just days ahead as the State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment prepares to launch the Sabah – World Pangolin Day which fell on Saturday (Feb 16). Meanwhile, Sabah Wildlife Department Director Augustine Tuuga said investigations are still underway following the seizure in Tamparuli, adding that there are procedures that they have to go through.  - Sherell Jeffrey Source: Daily Express
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18Feb

RM173.5mil federal tourism projects proposed for Sabah

PUTRAJAYA: The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment has submitted a list of proposed tourism development projects in the State, estimated to cost RM173.54 million, to be funded by the Federal Government. Its Minister Datuk Christina Liew made the submission to the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), Datuk Seri Mohammadin Ketapi, at a meeting with the latter at his office, here, Thursday. Also present were Deputy Secretary-General (Tourism) Dato’ Haslina Abdul Hamid, Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Musa Yusof and Special Functions Officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Jamil Hamzah. Liew, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, stressed that the proposed projects are for the continued growth of the tourism industry in Sabah. These involve 10 districts, namely, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Sandakan, Kudat, Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, Tenom and Beaufort. The projects include upgrading of the infrastructure at the Tawau Hills Park, building of jetties, upgrading of visitor facilities at Simpang Mengayau and at an archaeological site, renovation of the existing building at two heritage museums, provision of tourism facilities at a wildlife sanctuary and renovation of the Lansaran building and multi-purpose buildings in Tenom. “I will make a strong recommendation for the approval of the proposed tourism-related projects. However, the applications for funding of these projects will be scrutinised by the Federal Economic Planning Unit.  We will keep on fighting for funds,” Mohammadin assured Liew, who was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Baya, Director of Sabah Parks, Dr Jamili Nais, Sabah Tourism Board General Manager, Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani and the Minister’s Private Secretary, Helen Muhammari. The Federal Minister also said he would duly consider the application for funding of the proposed facelift for the Poring Hot Springs in Ranau. Briefing Mohammadin further, Liew, who is MP for Tawau, made a request for an annual grant of RM1,500,000 for the preservation of Sabah’s ethnic heritage for the benefit of future generations. There are 35 main ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic groups in Sabah. She also sought another annual grant of RM500,000 in support of the International Youth Folk Dance Festival involving primary and secondary school students in Malaysia at national and international levels. Thirdly, Liew made a request for a “one-off” grant of RM500,000 for the Riu de Tawau programme to kick-start the Cuti-Cuti Tawau campaign which will be launched early next month. She said the programme will showcase the district’s ethnic groups and their rich heritage via a parade and cultural performances as well as their traditional cuisine through a food expo. “Tawau is a jewel in the crown but has yet to be fully explored and promoted to tourists. “I would like Cuti-Cuti Tawau to be incorporated into the calendar of events for Visit Malaysia Year 2020.” In response, Mohammadin said he would “cari jalan bantu” (find a way to assist), adding “I will help you on that one. I am a Sabahan.” He also assured his State counterpart that he would put in a word to the Minister of Transport in relation to the proposal to upgrade the Tawau and Sandakan Airports to the status of international airports. He concurred that Tawau is the gateway to the East Coast of Sabah, and an alternative gateway to Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu. Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Musa Yusof disclosed that statistics showed that 44pc of Chinese tourist arrivals to Malaysia came to Sabah in the previous year. Source: Daily Express
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27Nov

Sabah to promote rural tourism through community-based roadshow

KOTA KINABALU (Bernama) – Sabah Tourism Board (STB) will hold a two-day community-based tourism roadshow to promote rural tourism attractions beginning tomorrow, said State Tourism, Culture And Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Datu Rosmadi Sulai.

The roadshow, which is being held for the second time, aimed to encourage foreign and domestic tourists to travel to the rural areas, which in turn would generate income for the residents there, he said.

“Fourteen districts are participating in the programme this year compared with four in 2017. Furthermore, the programme will include a plastic-free campaign organised with a water filter company to persuade the public to minimise plastic use,” he told a press conference on the programme yesterday.

Datu Rosmadi said the roadshow involved the cooperation between the public sector – STB and Sri Pelancongan Sabah – and the private sector, namely Suria Sabah shopping mall that provided the event’s venue.

Besides rural attractions, the roadshow would also promote rural tourism products such as village stay, camping, and ecotourism activities, he noted.

To further boost community-based tourism industry’s growth in the rural areas, Datu Rosmadi said, tourism action councils had been activated in most districts in the state to identify and develop tourism-related products for the benefit of the locals and the state economy.
Source: Borneo Bulletin
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23Nov

Lantern, Folk Arts Fest at Tg Aru beach

Kota Kinabalu: About 3,000 colourful lanterns will light up Tanjung Aru beach during the inaugural Sabah International Lantern and Folk Arts Festival 2019. Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the festival is scheduled to be held from Feb 1-May 10, next year. It is going to be held by the Silk Road International Industry Development Group, Sichuan Silk Road Business School, Sabah Institute of Art, Chengdu Bashanmei Culture Communication, China Zigong Lantern Culture Industry Group, in collaboration with the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, Sabah Tourism Board, and the China Consulate in Kota Kinabalu. "This is the first time for an international lighting company to hold such event in Sabah, and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is expected to attend the official lighting up ceremony," said Liew, Wednesday. "The festival venue will be from Prince Phillip Park until Tanjung Aru First Beach…along a three-kilometre stretch." She said the lanterns will showcase a mixture of local attractions of flora and fauna as well as Chinese culture. "It is going to be a good platform for cultural exchanges between Sabah and China as there will also be food stalls and performances," she said. Liew said the festival is also part of the ministry's measures to revitalise Tanjung Aru beach. "We started with the Tanjung Aru Beach Festival to be held for three days starting this Friday (Nov 23), and the Sabah International Lantern and Folk Arts Festival 2019 will be the second large-scale events to be held in Tanjung Aru beach. "Tanjung Aru beach has always been a favourite spot for Sabahans, especially city folk and foreign tourists. "As such we are planning to organise more events there like musical performances and festivals." Silk Road International Industry Development Group executive director cum chief executive officer Chen Jian Bo said the Sabah International Lantern and Folk Arts Festival is a good avenue to promote Sabah. "As a visual art, the lanterns have the universality of transcending text – a world language. "In the past five years, China has held various forms of international exchange lanterns which is an important force for the lantern industry and a new channel for the development of international cultural interaction. "Under China's national 'One Belt One Road' strategy development, the lantern industry also shoulders the important mission of spreading Chinese excellent culture and promoting world culture," he said. Meanwhile, Liew disclosed that the State Government is still reviewing the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project and nothing has been finalised. "However, as long as we have the beach, we will continue to use it as well as to promote it," she said. Also present were Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani and Sabah Institute of Art President Prof Datuk Dr Wilson Yong. - Ricardo Unto   Source: Daily Express
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