Saturday, November 22, 2014

Sabah can promote tourism on its own


SANDAKAN: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is capable of promoting tourism overseas due to rapport established with host countries during past promotions.

Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, said STB had established good rapport with host countries in overseas sales and promotion assignments and as such it had no problem in promoting the state on its own.

He said the Ministry of Tourism, both at state and federal levels, were responsible in carrying out their duties in promoting tourism in the country, and there should be collaboration in this matter.

“It is the responsibility of the Federal Tourism Ministry to promote Sabah as a tourism destination, after all we are a part of Malaysia,” he said adding that Sabah contributed income to the federal government and as such they also should do their part to promote Sabah.

Concurring that the federal ministry has to promote other states in Malaysia, he said it was not an easy task.

“Therefore, STB as an entity can promote its tourism product on its own.”

Speaking to reporters after the launching of ibis Styles Sandakan Waterfront, he said tourism players and his ministry had the same objectives in promoting tourism and as such there should be collaborations between them.

“We are a tourism team, with our main aim being to promote and prosper the tourism industry in the state,” he said.

“Everybody in the government should work together to ensure that tourism recover from what has happened in Sabah,” he said, adding that sensationalising stories should be avoided as this could compromise tourists’ confidence in Sabah.

According to him, there were disputes about the level of safety in the east coast of Sabah but he believed the security forces are capable of ensuring the security of this area.

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