Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah welcomed 857,675 visitors as of July, representing a significant increase of 632 per cent compared to the same period last year and an estimated RM1.4 billion in tourism receipts.
“In light of this development, Sabah is optimistic to receive more than a million visitors this year,” he said. So far, the increase was driven by the domestic tourism sector which contributed a total of 785,123 visitors, an increase of 582 per cent for the same period.
“With the reopening of international borders, the number of international tourist arrivals recorded significant growth with 72,552 arrivals, an increase of 3,680 per cent for the first seven months this year.
“This is indeed a good sign and slowly but surely, we see visitor arrivals picking up and I am happy that tourism industry players have joined hands with us to push this upward momentum,” he said, at the official opening of Sabah’s newest hotel, Holiday Inn Express, in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 26.
The Chief Minister was also heartened to note that air connectivity, both domestic and international, is on the upward trend.
Currently, there are 367 domestic flights with 60,162 seat capacity per week to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Bharu, Terengganu, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu and Mulu.
For the international sector, Sabah is now connected to five destinations – Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Incheon, Manila and Bangkok with 39 flights per week and seat capacity of 7,016.
“In line with the tourism recovery efforts, the granting of incentives to international airlines have been implemented as part of the tourism recovery strategy post-pandemic.
“The incentive aims to support and encourage airlines to reinstate air connectivity, commence new international routes, or hold special charter flights to Sabah. This is important since 96 per cent of tourist arrivals to Sabah are by air,” said Hajiji.
He said at the domestic level, efforts are focused on smart collaboration with industry partners such as airlines, tourism associations and the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia).
These initiatives include high visibility campaigns as well as familiarisation trips for media and social media influencers, he said adding that participation in tourism fairs such as Matta Fair, MITM Travel Fair would be further enhanced.
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Government charted a development plan and launched the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, outlining its vision, strategy and priorities for the next five years from 2021.
“It was to be a pivotal blueprint to bring Sabah into the next decade and to provide clarity on Sabah’s key focus areas, especially for businesses and investors resulting in high-impact multi- billion ringgit investments taking off.
“And the best news is that Sabah has raked in RM9.9 billion worth of foreign investments from January to September this year, all achieved in the midst of the pandemic,” he said.
The Chief Minister said most importantly, these investments also produced a multiplier effect to boost the economy.
“I want to see that they are measured in jobs created for our people. For a new hotel like Holiday Inn Express, we want to see that the impact is measured not only by the flow of visitors and their resources but also by the opportunity in hiring locals.
“And the key to this is that investments we bring in are measured in the motivating effect on other local enterprises besides seeing that their impact will ripple through the local communities,” he said.
As more arrivals are expected into Sabah, the State Government is confident that there would be sufficient rooms with at least 11 new hotels being planned or built and to be completed in the next few years with additional 3,500 rooms.
In addition to Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt Centric, Alila Resort would also be completed this year.
The Chief Minister later witnessed the handing over of RM50,000 contribution from Chee Swee Cheng Group of Companies to the Tuaran Rumah Anak Yatim dan Miskin.
Present were State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Yakub Khan, Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister and Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Chee Swee Cheng Group of Companies Executive Director Chee Eng Hoon, and InterContinental Hotels (IHG) and Resorts Director of Operations South East Asia and Korea Sophie Mougel.
