Tag - Tourism

Kota Kinabalu: Always mesmerizing on the ivory keys, Mariko Hata - famed Japanese pianist, composer and singer, will perform with an equally prominent compatriot producer, educator, pianist and composer, Morishita Shigeru, at the June 28-29 Tip of Borneo Sunset Fest, organisers at Sri Pelacongan Sabah Sdn Bhd said. Both shows start at 5pm but food & beverages and handicraft stalls open from 10am. The Japanese duo will provide the climatic finish to the 28 June show after a starting line up which feature local artistes such as Marlleynney Fane - a 2009 'Giant Idol' finalist, Fanzi Ruji, the JADEsisters and Sabahan song writer cum singer Gabriel Robert Rawantas @ Guba. June 29, popular and well rated Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yap Ling will be the center piece with a slew classical and pop repertoires, in keeping with Tip of Borneo Sunset Music Fest tradition. But it looks like Atilia Haron - a rising Indonesian star singer and song writer known for her soulful, contemplative contemporary sound which deals with universal themes of life and love anyone can relate to, is going to give something fresh for open air music buffs to look forward to, especially when she sings with the full orchestral backing of the JPO. Besides repeats from Fanzi Ruji, Jade sisters, Marlleynney Fane and Gariel Robert Rawanta for the Day 2 show, Hakka folks in Kudat and KK too will like this - a debut from Hakka-jai, Yu Tian Long, winner of the 1999 Malaysia Chinese Song composing Contest, Best Lyrics, Best Performance and Best Music Arrangement. His song "Don't Go England" reached top ranking on China's top 5 Hakka radio station and won 2011 World Hakka Pop Award top 10 award. So, folks, it look like another year of good fun and inspiration at the most spectacular scenery of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, which makes the three-hour drive worthwhile . It's a truly stunning ambience, if there is a ruby-red sunset to go with it, as happened in most previous years. Federal Tourism Minister, Datuk Sri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Azizi, is reportedly coming, making him the first national Tourism Minister to grace the event. Tickets, priced at RM50, are available for sale. Contact Jane Lai 088-232121 (Sri Peloncongan) or Shirley Teo 088-2 12121 (Sabah Tourism Board. Source: Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: The operator of China's Sanya Diving Training Centre, Diving Best, has expressed interest to enter the local tourism industry, as the State is well known in China as an eco and marine-based tourism destination. According to Sabah Economic Development Investment Authority (Sedia), a meeting with the group from the operator has shown positive outcome. The State's investment authority also introduced potential local partners, including the Sipadan Mangrove Resort and the Sabah Urban Development Corporation. The group was welcomed by Sedia Chief Executive Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari and subsequently held a briefing here, on Wednesday. The seven-person delegation was accompanied by a representative of Aigo Entrepreneurs Alliance, an organisation which assists private Chinese firms to promote their business outside of China. Diving Best, which originated from the Hainan Province in China, has been certified by the Confederation of Mondiale Des Activites Subaquatiques (CMAS), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and International Scuba diving school (SSI). They are also known for their collaborations with international hoteliers such as the Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Sheraton, Marriot and China's Horizon Resort and Spa in opening several tourism-based hotels and resorts in China. The company's centres have received over 50 million visitors and is equipped with semi-tropical ocean and beach recreation services, such as scuba diving, reef diving, night diving, professional deep-sea diving and bay diving. According to Dr Yaakub, for firms interested to invest in the Sabah Development Corridor, Sedia has developed tax incentive packages approved by the Ministry of Finance. "These incentives include areas of activities in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and major industries," he said. Such packages include full tax exemption on statutory income for up to 10 years, investment tax allowance of 100 per cent on qualifying capital expenditures for five years and full exemption on import duty and sales tax, subject to current policy. Source : Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: Plans are afoot to sell Sabah on the high seas. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said Star Cruises' Superstar Cruises has plans to deploy to Kota Kinabalu in November and would be an excellent opportunity to sell the State to tourists and cruise passengers on board the Cruises. "The cruise ship will be a good place for us to sell Sabah to international passengers onboard the ships. "Star Cruises have agreed that there will be local cultural performances on the cruises and they will use their facilities on board to showcase what Sabah has to offer. "We will be happy to assist them with tourism cultural dancers and other things. "As I see it, there is nothing much passengers can do onboard so might as well tell them more about Sabah while they are onboard. For us it is a good opportunity to tell them more about our State and probably to encourage them to come to Sabah to spend more time on land instead of just on the ships." Masidi also suggested that Star Cruises consider expanding their route in Sabah in the future. "We are looking initially at Sandakan but, of course, this is on the understanding and the condition that there are berthing facilities in Sandakan. The whole idea is that eventually there would be a Sabah cruise just going around Sabah on the ships. "Sabah has many different attractions in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan and Tawau. This are just some of the things we are looking at." Adding to this, Masidi said when a cruise ship calls on a port they will normally stay for eight hours. "So we have to make sure that there are ample things for the passengers to see." He said this during the official announcement of the deployment of Star Cruises-Superstar Aquarius in a press conference at the Sabah Tourism Board office, Thursday. According to Star Cruises East Malaysia Operations Vice President Edward Johann Leong, the visiting cruise passengers can have the choice to visit attractions and places of interest in the State. "This can be attractions such as Mari Mari cultural village, State Museum, islands and the national parks for example. Those interested can actually do the purchasing of the excursions and attractions in KK in the cruise ship itself. So we can actually sell Sabah and what Sabah has to offer onboard. Likewise we would also like to showcase a lot of the Sabah handicraft and food items onboard the ship for foreigners on board the ships. "Having the ship here actually allows people to actually come to KK, enjoy KK, go for a cruise and come back and probably stay for another night or two in KK before they go back to their home country. "So this is the whole idea of putting the cruise here which is to entice tourists to come here and to have a broader perspective of what Sabah has to offer. Likewise also offering Sabahans the chance to experience a cruise-like holiday, " he said. Star Cruises would be also offering 4D3N cruises from KK to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei and Bintulu, Sarawak departing every Sunday with shore excursions for guests to explore local attractions. From Wednesday to Saturday, passengers can enjoy cruise fun and entertainment on a daily nightly high seas cruise. The Star Cruises 51,309 tonnage Superstar Aquarius will commence her seasonal homeport deployment from Kota Kinabalu for the first time from Nov 6, 2013 to March 30, 2014. Currently based in Keelung, Taiwan, the ship will embark on a special 8D7N cruise departing from Kaoshiung on Oct 29, 2013 with stops at Hong Kong, Manila Boracay and arriving in Kota Kinabalu on Nov 6, 2013. Source: Daily Express