KUCHING: The Tourism and Culture Ministry is committed in promoting Sabah and Sarawak as tourism destinations.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz cited strategic cooperation with airlines as among the efforts to promote the two states.
In this regard, he said, Tourism Malaysia inked a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Airlines (SIA) at the Berlin International Tourism Fair in Bursa in March to bring in more European visitors to Malaysia this year.
“Sarawak and Sabah are iconic Malaysian products which are very attractive to visitors who appreciate nature or culture that carries some adventure. And in Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak fit the bill.
“The cooperation between Tourism Malaysia and SIA has borne fruit. I understand that many tourists from Europe have gone directly to Sabah and Sarawak without the need to stop over in the peninsula.”
“We also have good cooperation with AirAsia – they have had many flights between China and Malaysia. This year, we are targeting to receive four million visitors from that country. We hope AirAsia would fly these visitors in as they are tourists with spending power,” he said. — Bernama