Shopping to increasingly contribute to Sabah’s overall tourism revenue

KOTA KINABALU: The contribution of shopping activities to the state’s overall tourism revenue is still expected to increase, even though marginally, despite the global economic uncertainties and the Influenza A (H1N1) virus scare.

Assistant Tourism, Culture & Environment Minister Bolkiah Ismail said it was one of the main drivers to the state’s tourism receipts, with contribution of 40 per cent or RM956.8 million in domestic tourism receipts and 23 per cent or RM389.4 million in international tourism receipts, last year.

With more direct flights coming in from neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Indonesia, he said more international tourists were expected to visit and shop in Sabah.

“Bruneians are our main shoppers during Mega Sales Carnival. Of course we are not only targeting Brunei but also the Philippines and domestic market as well,” he said when officiating at the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival Sabah state-level launch here yesterday.

Last year, Sabah received 65,588 visitors from Brunei who spent about RM161.4 million, contributing 9.5 per cent of the international receipts for Sabah.

Bruneians also contributed about three per cent of the total revenues derived from shopping in tourism activities in Sabah.

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