Sabah To Contribute 10 Per Cent Of RM168 Billion Targeted Tourism Receipts

KOTA KINABALU -- Sabah, whose tourism sector is one of the state's prime movers, is confident of contributing 10 per cent to the targeted RM168 billion in tourism receipts by 2020, under the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP).

Sabah Tourism Board chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin, said Sabah believed it could achieve this as the state's tourism industry had seen tremendous growth over the last 10 years, where a double-digit growth in percentage of tourist arrivals was recorded last year.

"Under the MTTP, Malaysia has targeted 36 million in tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in tourism receipts by 2020.

"For Sabah, our focus won't be just on the number of tourists but also on the receipts, and we believe we can meet our targeted contribution," he told reporters after a retreat involving tourism industry players in Sabah, here, Saturday.

The programme, jointly organised by the Tourism Ministry's Sabah Office and Tourism Malaysia Sabah, brought together about 50 participants from the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Museum Department, Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) and AirAsia, among others, to brief and work out initiatives towards achieving the MTTP goals. Last year, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the MTTP was one of five economic pillars in the Economic Transformation Programme introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Continue reading at: Sabah To Contribute 10 Per Cent Of RM168 Billion Targeted Tourism Receipts

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Labuan's intriguing water village

By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Just like Brunei, a trip to the island of Labuan is not complete without visiting the unit and intriguing water villages or Kampung Air.

Visitors may be forgiven if they are still thinking that water villages mean traditional wooden houses on stilts joined by a maze of inter-connecting wooden walkways.

The houses may still made of wood and built on stilts.

But a touch of colours has changed the look of the houses.

The houses at Labuan Kampung Air are now painted with a variety of bright colours.

And at least in three villages - Kampung Patau-Patau 1, Kampung Patau-Patau 2 and Kampung Lajau - the maze of inter-connecting walkways is now made of concrete.

There is no danger for villagers and visitors falling into the water when the wooden planks gave in.

The concrete walkways are also wide and connect hundreds of houses.

Metal rail guards are now fixed to the sides of the concrete walkways so that the people has a sense of security when walking on the walkways.

At Kampung Patau-Patau 2, there is even a road leading to the village.

Thanks to a land reclamation project, most of the water villages are now accessible by road.

A huge car park was also built for the villagers so they can park their cars near to their houses.

The residents of Kampung Patau-Patau 2 are mainly Brunei Malays.

Almost every house still has its own boat. They also added a car to their collection so they can go to town by road.

The houses can be quite large and they all have a cool veranda in front.

Some are eye-catching with pots of brightly coloured bougainvillea and orchid flowers.

At one house, the owner also has a garden which he named Taman Romantika.

The villages are made up of large communities with shops, mosques and other facilities.

Kampung Patau-Patau 2 was established in the 1930's.

According to the residents, the whole village was wiped out by a Japanese bomb during World War II.

The resilient villagers rebuilt the village from scratch once the war was over.

The architecture and concept of the water village dates back to their ancestors in Brunei.

To this day, the water village residents incorporate their Bruneian culture and customs into their daily lives.

The old people still go to the seas to catch fish. Crabs are also caught using a large 'pintur' which they line up along the river.

At least a few of the old folks also make boats, just like the boat industry in the water villages of Brunei.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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Jungle ascent a peak experience in Sabah Borneo

As the first morning light creeps up the jagged peaks, the sky changes from black to icy blue and the stunning beauty of the landscape plummeting below me is revealed.

The cold biting at my fingers and face is forgotten as I marvel at the steep granite slope we have just climbed, then at the deep green lowlands and beyond.

When the Carpenters were warbling about being on top of the world, were they thinking about the peak of Mt Kinabalu?

Our adventure to "the top of the world" started two weeks before.

Upon arrival in Malaysian Borneo, we explored the enormous caves and vibrant jungle of Sarawak before soaking up the sun on the tropical island beaches in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park off Kota Kinabalu, the bustling capital of Sabah.

Now my partner James Hutson and I felt ready to tackle the next challenge - and what better way to finish a holiday than by climbing a mountain? With its highest point (the formidable looking Low's Peak) reaching 4095m, Mt Kinabalu is one of the tallest mountains in South-East Asia.

Because of its relatively easy, climber-friendly terrain, combined with sensational views from the top, the Mt Kinabalu climb is one of the more popular, appealing to about 40,000 climbers (with a vast range in age and experience) every year.

Two days earlier we set out for Kinabalu National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the famous peak) along a beautiful and exhilaratingly steep 90km drive from Kota Kinabalu.

On arrival at the park, we explored the many marked jungle trails and attended the information session provided.

The mountain unveiled itself in glimpses through the clouds until finally a full view of the peaks could be made out.

As I looked up at Low's Peak with poorly contained apprehension, I was transported back many months to when James and I were planning the trip.

How high? Oh, just over 4000m. No worries, I have plenty of time to train and get into peak condition, as the Climb Mt Kinabalu website recommends.

Now here I am staring up (way up) thinking that perhaps I should have got that full body endurance cross-trainer after all.

Deciding to save our legs for the next day, we have dinner and head straight to bed.

The next morning, after an early start and a delicious (though perhaps ill thought-out) three-course breakfast, we head to Park HQ where we sign to acknowledge there are dangers when climbing mountains.

We are given individual identity tags and introduced to our guide, Freddie. Time to hit the trail.

On the free shuttle to Timpohon Gate (1800m and the start point of our hike), I learn that Freddie has done this climb twice a week, every week for the past five years.

I reason that he could provide tips for a pleasant climb.

Freddie, as time would show, proved his weight in gold.

"Slow, steady, small steps and don't stop too often," he told us.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Jungle ascent a peak experience in Sabah Borneo
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Australians told to explore Brunei's magical eco-tourism

By Azlan Othman in Melbourne, Australia

"Brunei is a wonderful place and has a warm relationship with Victoria. Brunei offers some magical opportunities in eco-tourism especially with its unspoilt pristine jungle compared to many other tourist destinations around the world.

"It becomes the Sultanate's principality and Australians are well known for their interests in eco-tourism. We hope Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has a very successful fly in the sky for many years to come," said Bruce Atkinson, President of the Legislative Council and state member of Eastern Metropolitan region in a speech to senior government officials from Brunei Darussalam marking RBA's inaugural flight to Melbourne.

"We are always delighted to welcome a new airline to Victoria.

"We have better airports in Australia. Melbourne is clearly one of the most important gateways to Australia. Victoria is an important state for Australia particularly in food manufacturing which is of interest to Brunei and increasingly to tourism. One of the interesting aspects about tourism is Victoria has no natural wonders like some other states have.

"A lot has been said about our shopping and the Formula One Grand Prix which was held last week and many other sporting, convention programmes and cultural activities.

"We are very fortunate to bring many people to Australia through Melbourne. When we have another opportunity to bring another airline, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) to Melbourne, RBA passengers find it convenient to go to Australia via Melbourne, as a gateway to Australia.

"We see opportunities for more Australians and more visitors from other parts of the world to Australia looking at RBA as an alternative to go and perhaps experience Brunei, which is a terrific opportunity. RBA is the 27th airline to come into Melbourne and effectively puts around another 120,000 international seats into Melbourne each year as RBA flies four times a week.

"I think it is going to be an effective and successful route for RBA and a bridge to many events perhaps like exports and trade opportunities and in working with the Brunei government, its agencies and companies particularly in Halal branding," he said.

"There are terrific markets out there for Australian food and beverage manufacturers to try and match in business through the export market. Certainly Halal endorsement is a very significant marketing tool worldwide. With us working to some extent with Malaysia and now with Brunei Darussalam to extend their Halal brand in food, it certainly gives a good opportunity," he added.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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Royal Brunei Airlines officially opens Melbourne office

Royal Brunei Airlines commemorated the opening of its new office in Melbourne, Victoria with a ceremony officiated by Hj Adnan Hj Mohd Jaafar, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam in Australia and Riaz Moiz, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Planning of Royal Brunei Airlines. Royal Brunei Airlines launched its four-time weekly services to Melbourne on March 29.

Riaz Moiz stated, "We've had a positive response from the public and are witnessing the start of exciting growth in the Australian market whilst strengthening ties with Victoria Tourism."

During the ceremony, Hj Adnan Hj Mohd Jaafar said, "I have the honour to officiate the Royal Brunei Airlines office opening ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria. May it be blessed with success for many wonderful and prosperous years." Flights are scheduled to operate from Bandar Seri Begawan to Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while flights depart from Melbourne are on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays via RBA's Boeing 777 aircraft.

Royal Brunei Airlines' Melbourne office is located at Level 10, 45 William Street, Melbourne Victoria, 3000, Australia. Customers can book flights with Royal Brunei Airlines through travel agents, visit their local RBA office, or visit us online at www.bruneiair.com.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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