All information of tourism sabah

03Apr

Eastern Sabah records increasing number of tourists

SANDAKAN: The number of tourists coming to eastern Sabah is increasing after various initiatives taken by the government and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom). Sandakan Tourism association president Johnny Lim, who is also a tour operator, said its members had registered an increase of 31 per cent in room bookings last year, compared with 29 per cent the previous year. He said the security level was improving and the presence of security personnel boosted the tourists’ confidence in the security in the district. “Besides measures taken by the government, especially Esscom, the association and tour operators have worked together to promote and convince tourists that this district is safe. “Tourists here are more confident when they are escorted by security personnel to islands,” he said, referring to the recent incident of a group of China tourists who went to Selingan island, and gave a positive review of the security level. In Semporna, tour operator Kerinu Jalani said there were an additional 1,000 tourists daily. Kerinu, who is the chairman of the Semporna local tour companies association, said tour operators here saw an increased number of tourists after Esscom implemented a curfew in the area. The curfew in the waters off the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), which include this district, Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, and Beluran, took effect in July 2014. He said during the peak season, the rooms would usually be full and tourists had to make a booking at least a month in advance. “The most obvious (indicator that tourism is improving in the area) is the (increased number of) local boats from only about 30 last year to 80 last month. “This is attributed to the increasing number of tourists.” He said hotel operators were experiencing difficulty accommodating tourists’ needs. “We hope more tourists will come  to Sabah, especially the east coast, and that the government will continue with its curfew order,” he said, adding that besides Europeans, many of the tourists were from China. Source: New Straits Time
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29Mar

CNY marks highest arrivals of China tourists – Pang

KOTA KINABALU: The number of Chinese tourist arrivals in Sabah in the first two months this year increased by 52 per cent to 113,296 compared to the corresponding period last year. Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said that the Chinese New Year week in February also recorded the highest Chinese tourist arrival in a week at 67,000. “This is in line with our target of receiving between 550,000 and 600,000 visitors from China this year,” he told reporters when met at the ‘Passion of Minnan Culture on Maritime Silk Road’ cultural show at the Culture and Arts Department Complex here yesterday. The event was organised by the Xiamen Municipal Tourism Development Commission who were on a cultural tour on a cruise ship along the Maritime Silk Road in South East Asia. According to Pang, he had requested the Xiamen Municipal Tourism Development Commission Deputy Director General, Zhong Hai Lin who was present, to consider re-launching direct air link between Xiamen and Fujian with Kota Kinabalu, to be serviced by Xiamen Airlines. He said that the airline is currently servicing Fuzhou – Kota Kinabalu route and Beijing – Kota Kinabalu route. “Xiamen is a tourism hub of China which received some 78 million tourists, mostly domestic visitors last year. So if we can link these two cities, we can tap to the vast tourism market and promote Sabah to the rest of China. “Now visitors come to Sabah through Fuzhou but Xiamen is a better known city and it is close to Taiwan. “Malaysia Airlines used to fly to Xiamen from Kota Kinabalu but it stopped in 2004. Things are different now,” he added. Pang also hoped that the Xiamen Municipal Tourism Development Commission cruise ship, Neo Costa Romantica, would call on Kota Kinabalu in its scheduled service. He said although visitors arriving on cruise ships are not counted as tourists because they stay on the ship instead of in a hotel, they also contribute greatly in terms of tourism receipt. “With passengers’ capacity of 1,800 and crew of 1,200, the Neo Costa Romantica would benefit the city,” he said. Source: New Sabah Times
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28Mar

Sabah intensifies tourism development through partnerships

By ROZZALIN HASHIM SANDAKAN: Tourist arrivals in Sabah are expected to breach the 10 million mark in the next five years with concerted efforts to bring the east coast in the state into the picture. At an agreement signing ceremony at a leading hotel here Monday evening witnessed by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman, 200 units of floating villa near the world renowned Sipadan Island will be built jointly by a state-owned company and one from China. Sabah recorded about 3.7 million tourist arrivals last year. A majority of them are drawn by attractions in the west coast of Sabah including the Mount Kinabalu area. But increasing number have been recorded in East Coast attractions such as Sipadan, Mabul and other dive resorts, as well as eco-tourism products in places like Sandakan and Lahad Datu. One of the Memorandum of Understanding signed yesterday was between Sabah Green Development Sdn Bhd (SGD), a recently-created government-linked company tasked with developing the economy, particularly tourism, in Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau. The company had been approved by the State Cabinet to work with the Sandakan Municipal Council in the development efforts. Tourists from China have been the main contributor to Sabah’s rapid tourism growth and SGD has formulated the Sabah East Coast Tourism Belt in an attempt to strategise to lure more China tourist to the east coast. The company signed an MOU with Living Great Fortune Sdn Bhd whose shareholders are from China. Construction of the floating villas is expected to begin this year. The other MoU witnessed by Musa was between SGD and Institut Sistem Mikroelectrik Malaysia, or MIMOS. SGD was represented by its chief executive officer John Nip, whilst Ong Tat Kian represented the China interest. John Nip also signed the MOU with MIMOS, which was represented by Dr Ahmad Nizar Harun. It concerns the development of a smart tourism information system aimed at addressing tourists’ security concerns. MIMOS is a research and development agency in the information communication technology sector. It comes under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. While Sandakan is the transit point to the Selingan Turtle Island and the eco-adventure tourism products in the Kinabatangan area, Lahad Datu is known for the Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and the scenic Silam area linked to Darvel Bay. There are now direct flights into Sandakan and Tawau, which tourists use as transit point to Semporna and on to Sipadan, Mabul and several other marine resorts. Also present at the signing ceremony were Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Zakaria Hj Mohd Edris and Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk James Wong. Source: New Sabah Times
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26Mar

Telipok-Randagong road to boost tourism, agriculture – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU: The RM288 million Telipok-Randagong road project will be a boon to tourism and agriculture in Kiulu and Ranau, said Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun. Masidi said the road, spanning 60 km connecting Jalan Telipok with Pekan Kiulu, Pukak, Pahu, Lokos, Toboh and Randagong, will create access to hidden jewel areas that lacked infrastructural connection. He elaborated this will give the hardworking people of Kiulu and Ranau the opportunity to wider access of agricultural produce market and spur rural tourism growth. “They will have the option of selling at Pekan Ranau, Keningau and also Kota Kinabalu,” said Masidi, who is also Karanaan assemblyman. “We can plant leafy vegetables for example but if it takes too much time to get to the market, all that work will be to no avail because the vegetables will become spoiled before it gets to the market. “With my own calculations, from the borders of Ranau and Kiulu, a vegetable farmer can reach Kota Kinabalu in less than an hour and I am sure they will be able to reach the market and get a higher chance to sell it in the city,” he added. In terms of tourism, Masidi foresees the establishment of upscale tourist accommodation in the environment that had been preserved for the last 50 years. “This gives us a chance to encourage the tourism sector to grow along the road in these beautiful areas. I predict the growth of upscale chalets and also homestay,” said Masidi after officiating the Kolej Sidma Sabah and Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (KUIS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony here yesterday. “This (the road project) is a game changer for all the people who are living along that road because it opens up an immense potential to improve their livelihood,” he concluded. The road project is at 65% construction completion, way ahead of the expected 45% target by start of 2018. Source: The Borneo Post
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19Mar

Agents promote Sabah as golfing destination

By UMESH RAJAN SANDAKAN: Around 25 golf agents from China were invited to play in a friendly golf meet at the award-winning Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa in Tuaran, recently. The golf agents were invited by the president of Shenzhen Century Holiday International Travel group who is also the leader of China Brother Golf Team Association to promote Sabah as a golfing destination. Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club was awarded Best Golfing Experience in the Sabah Tourism Awards 2017 where at the eco-golf course, players can tee off against the breathtaking backdrop of Sabah’s iconic Mount Kinabalu with views afforded from most holes. “We are excited to see partners joining forces to make this inaugural visit to Kota Kinabalu to promote golf in Sabah. The trip was made into fruition through the tremendous response from Century Holidays and experts in the golf travel industry who are members of the China Brother Golf Team Association. “We are honoured to be part of this inaugural visit and help to introduce Sabah as a combined destination for both golf and leisure,” said Fiona Hagan, General Manager. Source: New Sabah Times
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