Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s tourism industry is aiming to position the State as a world-class wedding destination. Industry players plan to work with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to develop the niche market, believing it will strengthen Sabah’s international profile and generate higher tourism receipts.
“We hope to secure a meeting with the Sabah Tourism Board in early August to discuss a coordinated strategy with tourism stakeholders,” said Wedding Professionals Association of Malaysia (WPAM) President Patrick Low.
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He said this after a meeting with senior tourism industry players, led by Airworld Travel and Tours chairman Winston Liaw Kit Siong, to explore the initiative.
Also present were WPAM Vice-President Jun, along with representatives from several international five-star resorts.
The discussion focused on promoting Sabah as a premier destination for wedding ceremonies and related tourism.
Low said Sabah has many advantages, including world-class natural attractions, a rich cultural heritage and strong air connectivity through numerous direct international flights.
He said the state could offer distinctive wedding experiences by incorporating indigenous culture, traditional music, dance and local cuisine into ceremonies.
“These are authentic experiences that other destinations cannot simply copy,” he said. Low said he had attended many international wedding exhibitions but found that Malaysia was rarely promoted as a wedding destination.
“Why do couples think of Bali, the Maldives or Phuket, but not Sabah?” he asked.
Wedding tourism is regarded as a premium segment because couples and their guests typically spend more on accommodation, venues, dining, transport and sightseeing, generating higher tourism receipts and wider economic benefits.
