Sabah, Jiangxi sign MoU to promote tourism

KOTA KINABALU: The Jiangxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to enhance tourism promotional efforts between both parties.

STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the first MoU signed between Sabah and Jiangxi marked the beginning in attracting more tourists to the state and vice versa.

“We wish to deepen cooperation particularly in efforts to attract more tourists, especially from China, considering a large number of tourists visiting Sabah are from that country.”

Joniston said Jiangxi had a population of 45 million, which would be a huge tourism opportunity for STB.

He said the state’s participation in the coming tourism expo at Jiangxi this September would be the starting point of collaboration between both parties.

“During the initial discussion, they have requested us to work on a direct flight from Jiangxi to Kota Kinabalu.

“This proposal is a positive development given that direct flights from several cities in China to Kota Kinabalu have been mounted,” he said at the signing ceremony here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Jiangxi Provincial Tourism Development Committee director general Ding Xiaoqun said both parties hoped to achieve a win-win situation in enhancing the tourism sector and economy of the country through the MoU.

Ding also invited STB and government agencies to visit the tourism sector in Jiangxi.

“At the same time, we will bring tour companies from Jiangxi to Sabah to explore the uniqueness in this state.”

Ding said the media’s involvement was also important in the bilateral collaboration for tourism promotion.

Meanwhile, the Jiangxi Provincial Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office signed another MoU with Ma Zhong Friendship Association Sabah at the event to forge cooperation in various areas including trade, technology, culture, education, tourism and agriculture.

The MoU also aims to promote friendly relations and friendship city ties between Sabah and Jiangxi.

Also present were STB general manager Datuk Irene B. Charuruks and Vice Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Sun Xiaowu.

Source: Borneo Post