KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourism sector is expected to rake in RM5.43 billion this year based on the targetted arrivals of three million tourists.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the target is achievable with support and cooperation from everyone.
Winding up the debate on the Head of State’s policy speech for his ministry, he said throughout 2012, Sabah received 2,875,761 visitors – an increase of 1.1 per cent over 2011’s tourist arrivals.
Tourism revenue in 2011 was estimated at RM5.178 billion, representing an improvement of 2.6 per cent.
Masidi added that a major policy of his ministry was to promote Sabah as an attractive destination by aggressively carrying out marketing and promotional programmes in potential markets.
“I have taken note of several issues raised by several Assembly members during the sitting and my ministry will be looking into them,” he said.
And on the deaths of 14 Bornean elephants recently, Masidi said the Wildlife Department was still probing the incident and a reward of RM120,000 would be given to those who could provide information of the incident.
“We are transparent in addressing this issue. There are no attempts to cover up, he said, adding that the culprits would be brought to justice.
Masidi also said the deaths of the elephants at the Rara forest reserve in Tawau have attracted a lot of attention.
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