02Oct

Sabah jewels get support as UNESCO Heritage Site

PUTRAJAYA: Sabah’s jewels – the Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon – will be exempted from the provisions of National Heritage Act (Act 645) with their nomination as Unesco World Heritage site. The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) has agreed in principle to Sabah Government’s application for the exemption, said its minister Mohamaddin Ketapi during an inaugural meeting with Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Christina Liew who led a seven-member delegation. As it is, Act 645 requires that Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon be recognised first as a national heritage to facilitate its progression towards being accorded a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. “We (Sabah) are grateful and appreciative of the Minister’s consideration and approbation for the exemption. This positive move will pave the way for my Ministry to proceed with the application for Danum-Maliau-Imbak Canyon to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage,” said Christina who is also a Deputy Chief Minister. According to her, the nomination made in 2014, was raised again under the new government. “It was discussed during the Cabinet Meeting on July 18 this year, and decided that the nomination be continued without being restricted by Act 645,” Christina said. Christina who was accompanied by her ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai, and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) General Manager Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani, also introduced Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais who is a member of the World Heritage Panel of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and sits on the 12-member Panel as the sole representative from Asia. This panel, she said, provides high quality, technical and scientific advice to UNESCO regarding all matters related to natural World Heritage sites. The meeting was attended by Motac’s secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah who said his ministry would extend the necessary assistance for the nomination to be successful. Also present were the chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Ahmadshah Tambakau, director of Motac Sabah Office, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar, general manager of Sabah Cultural Board, William Baya and director of Sabah Museum, Mansur Hj Asun. On the Ministry’s proposal submitted by Christina for the upgrading of the Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu Airports to international status, Mohamaddin said he would bring it to the attention of the Federal Cabinet. She said the move was warranted and would minimise congestion at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, given that 90pc of domestic and international tourist arrivals in Sabah involve air transportation. “We are promoting tourism beyond Kota Kinabalu. The other three airports that will be upgraded accordingly will serve as alternative gateways to Sabah.” Mohamaddin was also receptive to Sabah’s call for her to play a proactive role, particularly in eco-tourism, in Visit Malaysia Year 2020 which aims to raise Malaysia’s name as the main tourist destination in Asia. “Sabah offers herself as the host for PATA Adventure and Travel Mart in February 2020 and B2B Travel Mart 2020. I am confident events of this nature will lure more than 200 international groups of visitors from South Asia, the United Kingdom and Europe,” said Christina. Mohamaddin gave a positive response to the Sabah Government’s application for an annual grant for the preservation of Sabah’s ethnic culture and heritage, management of the Sabah Ethnic Association, the International Youth Folk Dance Festival and “one-off” programmes such as Riu De’ Tawau in conjunction with Cuti Cuti Tawau campaign. Meanwhile, she assured the Federal Minister that her team would work together with the latter in efforts to promote Sabah as an ideal tourist destination in response to his call to Sabah to participate in overseas tourism promotion programmes involving Malaysia.   Source: New Sabah Times
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...
02Oct

International airport for Sandakan, Tawau

BY ALIZA ALAWI KINABATANGAN: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mohamaddin Ketapi will propose to the Government to upgrade the airports in Sandakan and Tawau to international air hub. According to him, the proposal is due to the diversity of tourism products available in Malaysia especially in Sabah which should be promoted extensively to foreign countries. “Obviously, it will help to increase the country’s revenue if the number of international tourist arrivals to Sabah also increases from time to time,” Mohamaddin said. Through the proposal, he said arts and crafts activities could help to spur Sabah’s economy, especially through eco-tourism in rural areas, he said when launching the 4th Pesta Damas at the Dataran Tamu Pekan Sukau here on Sunday. Hence, Mohamaddin calls on rural folks to play an increasing role in diversifying art and handicraft activities to attract foreign tourists. “We will further boost the activities of tourists, crafts and arts in rural areas to broaden the market of the products apart from wooing tourists to generate the people’s income,” he said. Also present were Persatuan Bangsa Sungai Sabah (SABAS) president, Dato ‘Juhari Hj Janan, Assistant Sabah Minister of Tourism and Culture and Environment Assafal Panglima Alian and Assistant Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports, Arunarnsin Taib. Mohamaddin said Malaysia received 25.9 million tourist arrivals, which generated revenue of RM184 billion from January to September this year. Earlier at the event, Mohammadin was awarded the “Tagajoh” title by Juhari in recognition of his leadership, struggle and devoted services especially to the Sungai community in Sabah.   Source: New Sabah Times
By Inside KePKAS, , , , Comments Off
Read more...
01Oct

Sabah can expect more tourists from NZ

Kota Kinabalu: The arrival of New Zeland tourists to Sabah that now stands at 10,000 yearly is expected to increase once a proposed arrangement on Indigenous Cooperation between the New Zealand High Commission and Sabah takes shape. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said her Ministry and others would be working on the matter. "Hopefully, the memorandum will materialise this year. The bilateral relations between New Zealand and Sabah will be rekindled and move a step further, especially in tourism. "I am optimistic it will boost tourist arrivals from New Zealand," said Liew, who is also a Deputy Chief Minister, after a courtesy call by NZ Acting High Commissioner Richard Mann, Wednesday. She invited Mann, who was on his maiden visit to Sabah, to visit Sandakan in the near future. Mann said New Zealand has a special relationship with Sabah and Sarawak based on educational needs and also indigenous peoples who have strong connections with the Maoris of New Zealand. "The Minister of Maori Affairs was here last year, so we are focusing a lot on developing indigenous people's links between New Zealand and Sabah and Sarawak. "That (courtesy call) was a wonderful meeting with the Minister, and I think we found a lot in common and a lot of interest in working together and going forward," he said. According to Mann, the objective of the Memorandum is to provide a framework for cooperation between New Zealand and Sabah on indigenous issues and between indigenous peoples in the areas of language and culture, trade and business, education, tourism, indigenous policy and legislative developments, environment and justice, on the basis of mutual benefit. Liew directed her Permanent Secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai to liaise with the Ministry of Education and Innovation, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Law and Native Affairs in working towards the realisation of the Memorandum. Also present were the Ministry's Assistant Secretary (Cultural), Tinus Manggam, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, Augustine Tuuga, Director of Environment Protection Department, Hj Mohd Yusrie Abdullah and Sabah Tourism Board Cassie Forsythe.   Source: Daily Express
By Inside KePKAS, , Comments Off
Read more...
01Oct

Promoting Sabah through films

Kota Kinabalu: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will widen the scope of promoting Sabah, especially through creative content like films, said its Minister Mohammadin Ketapi. "When we talk about culture, art and heritage, it is not something new in terms of promotion. But now, the Ministry would like to make it wider where we will promote it in a bigger scale abroad," he said when officiating the premiere of Tangisan Akinabalu, here, Thursday. The film, inspired by the devastating 5.9 Richter scale earthquake that struck Ranau in 2015, tells a story of a group of mountain guides who were involved during the quake. Tangisan Akinabalu, shot in 2016 entirely in Kundasang, Mount Kinabalu and around the city, is produced by local production house New Line Film and directed by award-winning director Datuk Jurey Latiff Rosli. The lead actors are big screen debutants Yuri Mejal and Phantagerow, and assisted by a pool of Sabah's talented actors, with a special appearance by Datuk Yusof Haslam. More than 300 actors and 40 crew were involved in the production of the RM2.2 million Tangisan Akinabalu. The film is screened in 32 cinemas nationwide starting Thursday. "The Ministry will also provide incentives for local production houses to create more local creative contents…we will provide a bigger opportunity for exposure and promotion for them," said Mohamaddin. The State, he said, is naturally beautiful and its unique culture should be promoted through films so that it is better known by outsiders. "I hope these unique local stories can be showcased on the silver screen so that the culture of Sabah can be better appreciated internationally," he said. He added that the Ministry welcomed any proposals to promote Sabah culture whether in the form of film, drama, theatre, song and other activities to boost nation's arts industry. Mohamaddin also disclosed that he had discussed with the director and producer of Tangisan Akinabalu to include the film in the Ministry's international promotional programme. "Films are among the most suitable channel to promote beautiful and interesting locations, and local culture." Towards this end, he said, the Ministry plans to showcase the film in the World Travel Market London (WTM London) next month. WTM London is a leading global event for the travel industry to meet industry professionals and conduct business deals. He also hoped the State Government through the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry can chip in to sponsor a pavilion to promote Sabah at the WTM London 2018. Meanwhile, he said Tangisan Akinabalu has a good storyline which can attract movie fans, especially locals, to the cinemas. "I was also informed that the cast and crew are nearly 100 per cent Sabahans. "Such opportunity and trust should be given to them as they, too, can be great film stars and crew in Malaysia," he said. Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai, producer Datin Stelyviana Vie Dandam Sitoh and executive producer Rodih Madun.
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...
01Oct

China airline begins Shenzhen-KK flight

KOTA KINABALU: China Southern Airlines started its flight connecting Shenzhen to Kota Kinabalu at 1.40am today (Sept 29). According to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew, the airline, which is Asia’s largest and the world’s fourth largest, will fly on all days except Wednesdays. “With this additional connectivity, there will now be a total of 98 weekly flights direct from a total of 10 major and secondary cities in China to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA),” she said during a press conference at her office yesterday. She added that the flight would be the airlines’ second connection to Kota Kinabalu after successfully connecting KKIA to Guangzhou and also Sabah’s second connection to Shenzhen. She said that in less than three years, China Southern Airlines had increased its flights from three to 21 weekly from China to Kota Kinabalu, which is almost one-fifth of the total flights from China to Kota Kinabalu. She said this signified strong confidence in the destination. Christina also congratulated the airline for upgrading its aircraft from A320 to A321 for the first five flights due to highly encouraging response during the opening sales of the route in mid-August and reaching over 90 percent of the A320’s capacity. “The decision to increase the seat capacity with a bigger aircraft would bring additional 200 passengers in the first five flights,” she said. She said as of July this year, the total arrivals to Sabah had increased by 5.3 percent or 2.221 million compared to the same period last year. She said 43.3 percent or at least 358,000 of these arrivals were from China, making the country the largest market source for arrivals to Sabah. “We hope to achieve 500,000 China arrivals by the end of the year,” she said. Up to July, Sabah Tourism has estimated that the total tourism receipts have reached RM4.81 billion or eight percent more compared to the same period last year. Christina said Sabah was on track to reach the RM8 billion revenue from tourism by the end of the year. She also iterated that her ministry aims to re-emphasize tourism in the east coast, especially in Tawau and in Sandakan. “These are Sabah’s second and third largest cities with equal, if not more potential for tourism. Most of the attractions there are unique to the east coast and not found in the west coast. It is also our aim that the community there are prepared to re-embrace tourism especially now in this digital era,” she said. China Southern Airlines (Malaysia) general manager Eric Wang said they would study and conduct a marketing research on Sandakan and Tawau as destinations and make a proposal to the airlines’ headquarters. Also present was the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu Consul General Liang Caide.   Source: Borneo Post Online
By Inside KePKAS, , , Comments Off
Read more...