GoPro expedition to promote Sabah
Published on: Saturday, April 09, 2022
GoPro picture by Baki Zainal. Inset: Noredah
Kota Kinabalu: Tourism Malaysia and GoPro have collaborated to promote Sabah’s attractions under the Dream Malaysia campaign with the adventures of 21 GoPro content creators.GoPro Global Marketing and Communications Vice President Rick Loughery said the campaign seeks to inspire and amaze through the content creators’ videos that would showcase notable tourist attractions in the country.
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“GoPro is thrilled to be part of the reopening of travel and tourism in Malaysia, beginning with excursions to Gaya Island and other parts in Sabah.
“Through working with Tourism Malaysia and ECHO Resorts, it has given us an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring GoPro creators to some of the must-visit destinations in the world to capture the diverse beauty of East and West Malaysia,” he said in a statement.
Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Zainuddin Abdul Wahab said the campaign kicked off at an opportune time amid the reopening of the country’s borders.
“This collaboration between Tourism Malaysia and GoPro also bears testament to the tremendous potential for economic development that can be realised through public-private partnerships, which can be strategic and instrumental tools to accomplish what neither can do alone.
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“We are confident that the amazing video content created using GoPro’s industry-leading technology will play an incredibly instrumental role in showcasing Sabah and other local destinations to the world, especially those with an insatiable appetite for adventure travel,” he said.
Aside from a three-day two-night tropical getaway at a luxury island under ECHO Resorts, the GoPro creators also engaged in activities such as river tubing at Tambatuon Eco-Village and visiting Kundasang Tamu, Moggiland Waterfall and Lasau Podi.
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Echo Resorts owner Gillian Tan said the resort’s association with the Dream Malaysia campaign was an iconic milestone and their specialty lies in giving guests a unique and memorable experience within an exotic and nurturing setting.
“Essentially, we are in the people business and see ourselves as dream makers,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is bringing the Kaamatan spirit to this year’s Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair on April 9-10 at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre, said its CEO Noredah Othman.
Kaamatan or Harvest festival is celebrated predominantly by the Kadazandusun ethnic group of Sabah, to offer thanks for a good harvest and gratitude for the restart of a new season.
“Kaamatan is celebrated in the month of May. It differs in date from each kampung and district around Sabah.
“But the State-level celebration and finale will always take place on May 30 and 31. For visitors to our booth at the Matta Fair, this would be a prelude to the special celebration,” she said in a statement, Friday.
Apart from highlighting the ethnic festival, Noredah said the other reason for the theme’s selection is closely related to the legend of Huminodun which narrates the story of a maiden who sacrificed herself to stop a famine that befell her people.
“Covid-19 is like the famine that falls upon us, but with the sacrifices of many people, like you and me, we are able to endure it.
“In the spirit of Kaamatan, we want to express our gratitude for the sacrifices that allowed the economy to recover, particularly the tourism industry, which was badly affected by the pandemic,” she said.
During the two-day event, holiday packages will be available for Sabah’s signature attractions such as Mount Kinabalu, Danum Valley, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sipadan Island, Kundasang highlands and islands off the Semporna coast.
She said Boost e-wallet users may redeem the RM100 Mansau Sabah Boostku voucher at the STB booth (Hall 4 Booth No 4099-4114), which is applicable to all packages offered during the fair.
Visitors can also enter to win a three-day, four-night holiday package to Kapalai Island with the board’s #FlymetoSabah Matta Edition by simply writing a postcard provided at the booth and dropping it at the post box there.
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