LABUAN: Labuan MP Datuk Yussof Mahal has called on the people here to support this year’s tourism agenda to attract more visitors to come to Labuan.
He said many tourism programmes had been planned and listed in this year’s Labuan Tourism Event Calendar in efforts to attract more domestic and foreign visitors in his speech while officiating at the New Year Celebration 2013 at Labuan International Sea Sport Complex here on Dec 31.
“Visit Malaysia Year 2014 will be launched on Jan 18 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and I am making this call to the people here to support the campaign on this island.
“The concept of ‘Think Tourism’ is not only to equip ourselves with tourism knowledge, but what is more important is how we treat tourists coming here so they will return in the future.
“We must become a society that upholds cleanliness, show honesty to tourists and not take advantage of them,” he said.
Yussof went on to say that apart from the beauty of tourism hotspots, the local people’s welcoming attitude was also a reason many tourists kept on visiting world-class tourism destinations such as Bali, Hawaii and Mauritius.
Meanwhile, on Jan 12, Culture, Communication and Information Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim would be launching a campaign
to promote the waving of the Federal Territory flag.
Labuan would also be the host for the closing ceremony of Federal Territory Celebration on Feb 23 which would be officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“In February, more programmes will be held here such as the ‘Feast 1Malaysia’ and ‘Integration Sports’ among the Federal Territories.
“I would like to ask traders here to make February the month to give special discounts on their products as part of efforts to attract more visitors to come here,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yussof is inviting bloggers here to take part in the Blog For FT Expression competition through photo and video display.
“This blog contest is held to instil love and caring among the people towards the Federal Territories, including Labuan, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.
“A blog site www.blog4ft.com has been created to make citizens in the federal territories have access and interact with each other through the internet.
“It will also become a platform to promote the three federal territories,” he said.