CM launches ‘Best of Sabah Holiday Packages’ campaign

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal officially launched the ‘Best of Sabah Holiday Packages 2019/2020’ Campaign, here yesterday. The auspicious event saw Shafie launching the Best of Sabah Holiday Packages 2019/2020 special edition booklet – an initiative that was introduced by Tourism Malaysia, in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign. It aims to promote the state’s beautiful and exciting attractions to both local and international tourists. Speaking to reporters after the event, which was held at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), Shafie said that the initiative would help boost the tourism sector of the country and Sabah as a state. “We all know that the tourism sector is a very dynamic source for our country…we know that Sabah has a lot of tourism products. The initiative that was taken by the Federal Tourism Ministry as well as MASwings is something that should be welcomed. “Our role in the state level is to continue giving our support to the Federal Government and other bodies – to ensure that the Visit Malaysia 2020 agenda could be fulfilled,” said Shafie. Featuring 135 holiday packages offered by 76 travel agencies, tourism product operators, homestay operators and local airlines in Sabah, the booklet provides new holiday ideas in Sabah and explores the state’s lesser known tourist attractions. The initiative is the result of the partnership between Sabah Tourism Board, MATTA Sabah Chapter, Sabah Tourism Association, Sabah Homestay Association and the local airlines in Sabah. With the nation gearing up to welcome 30 million international tourists and RM100 billion in tourist receipts, the booklet is timely in promoting the Visit Malaysia 2020 Campaign. The campaign received a further boost of support from MASwings Airlines as it has agreed to partner with Tourism Malaysia to promote the Visit Malaysia 2020 Campaign – where the airline will be displaying the said campaign logo on its aircraft. Among those in attendance were Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi; State Tourism, Culture and Environment cum Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew; and State Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon. Mohammadin expressed his gratitude towards the State Government for its support towards the said initiative. “On behalf of the Federal Government, through the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, I would like to say that we welcome its (the State Government’s) efforts. “We will come up with more tourism packages, not just in Sabah, but in the whole country. With such packages, I am confident that the country would be able to achieve its target of getting 30 million international tourists as well as domestic tourists,” said Mohammadin. The booklet is available for download at the Tourism Malaysia official website. Source: The Borneo Post
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East Coast travel packages launched in WTM

KOTA KINABALU: The East Coast of Sabah gets a significant push at the World Travel Mart held in London. A properly-packed travel attraction has been put together to ensure that the region is benefiting from the fast-growing tourism industry. It has been said that the world’s centuries-old love affair with Borneo centres around her impenetrable rainforests and exotic creatures and cultures. Sir David Attenborough had said that Borneo is one of the most unique and biodiverse places on this planet. Today, much of Borneo specifically Sabah are still mostly untouched, and the Government intends for it to stay that way. Sabah Tourism Board introduces a sampler of this exoticness through an East Coast-themed packaged tours loaded with Bornean wilderness. Tour designs vary from length of stay to levels of difficulty for experiences in Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau divisions where high concentration of rustic surroundings, natural settings and wildlife can be seen. Visitors can expect to enjoy primate-spotting of up to ten species, from the smallest Western Tarsier to the great ape orang-utan; to bizarre creatures like flying snakes and carnivorous plants all compacted in Sabah. About 60% of Sabah is covered with vegetation and out of that, 30% or 2.2 million hectares will be totally protected areas by 2025. General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board, Suzaini Sabdin Ghani who was representing the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, when launching the East Coast packages at Excel said, “Sabah is the lead for conservation work in Malaysia and it shows. Our strong policies keep much of our land intact and conservation areas like Maliau Basin, Danum Valley and Imbak Canyon exemplary models. “These areas are open to visitors and are suitable for long-haul guests who appreciate quality nature-based attractions and high-end treatment at the same time.” Suzaini also stated that the board is partnering with various regional airlines in reestablishing long-haul connectivity and direct access to Sabah’s wilderness. The recent partnership with BBC presenter Kate Humble, who experienced Sandakan herself, enabled the board to reemphasize visiting the East Coast to a wider audience, Suzaini said. Next year, the board will further use digital marketing to intensify the exposure and reach needed to draw interests in Sabah’s conservation gems in the East Coast.   Source: New Sabah Times
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