Kota Kinabalu: Smiles were on the faces of international flight passengers arriving on the first day of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 at the new Terminal Two in Tanjung Aru, Monday.The passengers on board Air Asia flight AK0503 from Clark, Philippines, were visibly surprised by the simple, yet special treatment given to them on stepping out of the arrival hall at about 7.15pm. On hand were Murut warriors and the rhythmic sound of the tagunggak (bamboo musical instrument) as well as being garlanded with Vinusak handmade Rungus bead-necklaces.
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"This is not my first time to Kota Kinabalu but this is the first time I have been given such very nice welcoming," said Aileen Ravalo.The 28-year-old from Manila said she did not know about the Visit Malaysia Year programme, but loved the attention."I hope it can be experienced by tourists arriving every day," said Ravalo, who was on transit to Brunei Darussalam.On the new Terminal Two building, which was completed on time for the VMY07, she said she liked "especially the air-conditioner as well as the colour of the building".
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Another passenger, Pauline Bansila, 45, also on transit to Brunei where she is working, said she always came down to KK and was impressed with the improvement of the infrastructure within a short period of time. "It's a very modern building," she said.Just like Ravalo, she had no idea about the VMY programme but admitted that the special cultural welcome attracted the interest of visitors.
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"You are showing your traditional culture. This is good for the tourists and yes it was quite a surprise," she said.Flight AK0503 was the first international flight into Terminal Two and among 11 international flights that carried an estimated 2,000 passengers on Jan. 1.The flights included Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Dragon Air, Silk Air and Korean Air as well as Air Asia from nine cities namely, Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou/Canton, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kaoshiung, Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan and Clark/Manila.According to the Sabah Tourism Board, which was organising the special cultural welcome, it reflected Sabah's full support as well as complementing the marketing and promotions of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.Just after midnight Monday, 110 Koreans from Inchon city became the first arrivals in Sabah when their Korean Air flight KE673 Airbus 300 touched down at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 1.25am.However, there was no cultural welcome except for a line of zealous tour operators, guides and resort personnel waiting at the arrival hall's exit gate.Carroline Thien, a Korean Air senior airport staff, said the tourists were heading for Sabah to escape the bitter Korean winter right now.The three-month four weekly services Winter package lasting till March will be replaced with a different programme once winter runs its course, Caroline told Daily Express."It's half full tonight and I'll be happier if it were full," said Shin Sang Min, Korean Air Station Manager for Sabah. However, 140 passengers boarded the return flight for Inchon. Tourism has shown itself to be a significant force in stimulating economic growth and job opportunities in Malaysia.In 2005, tourism revenues totaled RM32 billion.In 2006, the estimated earning was RM37.6 billion. However, the figure is expected to rise sharply to RM44.5b from an expected 20.1 million tourist arrivals, according to Tourism Malaysia. Sabah's share is around RM2 billion with potentials for more. Korean minds are beginning to tune into Sabah, market sources said.Moon Seung Eun, a trainee Korean guide, told Daily Express: "Kota Kinabalu is very famous, certainly catching up with Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, although it is a bit expensive in the context of Southeast Asia simply because Malaysia is not poor.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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