New rule on climbing Mt Kinabalu Jan 1

Kota Kinabalu: Those wishing to scale Mount Kinabalu will be required to obtain a climber's permit from Sabah Parks beginning Jan 1, next year.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the new ruling would require applications to the Sabah Parks headquarters, which issues the permit.

Only then they could apply for accommodation facilities from Sutera Sanctuary Lodge (SSL), which privatises the services from the State Government since 1988, over a period of 30 years.

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World expo positions Sabah as up-and-coming MICE destination

4 December 2007

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s target to become a top contender in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is not too far off.

Its premier Sabah International Expo 2008 will be the biggest exposition with participation from 30 countries that will showcase their latest products, services and technologies during the four-day exhibition set for Oct 16-19 at the yet-to-be-completed 1 Borneo exhibition hall.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the organizer was targeting to have 300 booths taken up each promoting their own wares.

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F2000 race today

KOTA KINABALU: The last thing Union Internationale Motonatique (UIM) Commissioner Gordon Sutherland wanted to do was disappoint the thousands of fans that packed the Waterfront yesterday. But under the circumstances, Sutherland had no choice but to call off yesterday’s Sabah F2000 World Cup Powerboat Race.

The race has been postponed to 10am today (Dec 3). Drivers will start a fresh race of 30 laps, and will do an installation run before 10am just to make sure that their boat systems are functioning properly.

Sutherland admitted that it was an unpopular decision but the race had to be put off when an accident occurred this afternoon.

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Powerboat racing help attract tourists to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Get ready for a sizzling time at the waterfront area as Sabah plays host to the F2000 World Cup Powerboat Race today and tomorrow.

Sabah hopes the event will give further exposure to the state as an adventure tourism destination with state Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun saying that the sport brought in a niche market.

“Powerboat sports is widely participated by the rich and members of royal families from the Middle East and this is a (tourism) market we would like to tap,” he said.

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Brunei domestic tourism campaign

By Huraizah Ahmad

The BITC 2007 exhibition at the Mall in Gadong highlights the KNK booth where selected tour operators, travel agents and hotels promote domestic tourism.

Since early this year, the Brunei Tourism Department under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources has implemented KNK or 'Kenali Negara Kitani' or 'Get To Know Our Own Country' project.

It aims to educate the locals on the various attractions available in the country through the promotion of attractive domestic tourism packages, especially during the school holidays. Family members will be able to enjoy quality time while understanding more about what the country has to offer.

Domestic tourism packages that highlight the eco-tourism attractions include the Proboscis Monkey experience, Heart of Borneo Fireflies Safari, Selirong Island Mangrove Park and Merimbun Heritage Park which are available at promotional prices of B$10 to B$60 per person. We have received quite a good response, especially from students and other agencies that are looking for interesting social activities that they can participate in as a group, said a personnel from Mona Florafauna Tours Enterprise at the KNK booth.

The KNK project is expected to be promoted aggressively in stages over the next three years whilst implementing new ideas gathered through various inputs from tourists, KNK partners, as well as members of the public, in order to make the project a success.

As of June this year, Brunei Tourism has already signed up with over 25 KNK partners consisting of various agencies in the private sector that are related to the Tourism industry such as hotels, travel agencies, tour operators and others.

A number of village or mukims have also signed as partners and have been identified for their distinctive cottage industry development in either food specialties, handicrafts, scenic attractions and unique activities and are identified as potential attractions for the country.

Courtesy of: Borneo Bulletin Weekend