KOTA KINABALU: The number of tourist arrivals in Sabah continues to rise despite the less than positive news on security in the state last year.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said 2.5 million tourists visited Sabah, an increase of 21 per cent, from January to October, compared to the same period in 2012.
“Of the total, 1.8 million were domestic tourists, which went up by 17 per cent.
“Foreign tourists especially from Hong Kong and China went up 84.7 per cent to 307,325 people, mostly from 237 charter flights, the highest record in Malaysia,” he said.
He said this in his speech during the eve of the New Year and Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (TMM 2014) celebration at Lintasan Deasoka, launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman here, Tuesday night.
Masidi was grateful that the effort of the ministry and tourism entreprenuers to rebuild confidence in Sabah as a safe destination had paid off.
Terrorists from Sulu, Philippines landed in Sabah in early February last year. On Nov 15, a Taiwanese, aged 57, was shot dead and his wife, 58, was kidnapped on Pulau Pom Pom, Semporna. She was rescued on Dec 20.
In conjunction with TMM 2014, Masidi said numerous tourist attractions had been prepared including the adoption of Kota Kinabalu as home port by sea cruise provider, Star Cruise Aquarius.
Furthermore, he said Kota Kinabalu was listed as a ‘Top 10 Rising Asian Destinations’ from TripAdvisor. — Bernama
