KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry will continue to acknowledge the organiser of Sabah Hospitality Fiesta in their effort to promote the State’s diversity through its annual event which is recognised as an annual tourism event in Sabah’s calendar of activities.
Its assistant minister, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, said the hospitality and tourism industry had always been a significant force in Sabah’s economy.
“Despite some setbacks due to several unfortunate incidences earlier this year, let’s look at things from a broader perspective and together put our best foot forward because under the 10th Malaysia Plan 2011-2015, Sabah aims to increase its tourism receipts.
“Our target for the 10th Malaysia Plan is RM8 billion, while the nation’s 2020 Vision goal is aiming to achieve RM24 billion by 2020. I personally feel those young men and women who are in the industry have chosen a great platform, with huge potentials to grow bigger,” said Pang during the launching of the 17th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta 2014 at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall here yesterday.
The event aims to bring about the best hospitality through sight, sound and taste.
Themed “Colourful Scenes of Malaysia”, the fiesta is in line with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014, showcasing the unique selling points of the country’s rich cultural heritage with many ethnic groups living in harmony.
Pang also said tourism always bring people together over and over again.
In this year’s event, the fiesta has included a special event called Hawker Street Fiesta Charity Do where participating hotels, resorts, colleges and education institutions creatively set up hawker stalls with a common objective to achieve a total sales proceeds of RM10,000 which will be channeled to Sabah Cheshire Home, the beneficiary of the event.
Chairman of the 17th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta 2014, Stanley Lajiun, said the total number of registered participants for this year is 245, which is a marked increase as compared to last year’s 176.
“On behalf of the organising committee, I wish all the participants the best and look forward to seeing both culinary and hospitality talents in action.
“It has been and will continue to be our aspiration to bring
out the best hospitality through sight, smell and taste through creativity brought by the various industry players from hotels, resorts, private establishments and of course from higher education institutions,” said Lajiun.
Ten participating groups who joined the Hawker Street Fiesta Charity Do were Asian Tourism International College, Grand Borneo Hotel, Horizon Hotel, Le Meridien Hotel, Palace Hotel, Promenade Hotel, Sabah Cheshire Home, Sabah Oriental Hotel, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort and Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa.
Ten hawker stalls are also set to compete for two coveted prizes.
The prizes for the Most Creative Hawker Stall and The Highest Worth of Coupons Collected will be presented during the closing dinner of the event tonight (November 2) at Ming Garden Hotel and Residence.
Also present yesterday was the chief executive officer of Asian Tourism International College, Datuk Wong Ken Thau.