LONDON: Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) in London and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) signed a new partnership campaign for 2018 to continue to boost arrivals to Sabah and raise the profile of Borneo (Kota Kinabalu) in the United Kingdom.
Next year, MAB London will be conducting a series of trade and consumer activities and campaigns to promote Sabah and Malaysia through digital campaign promotions on the Malaysia Airlines UK/EU online portals, partnership with Kuoni, and travel trade partnership with key tour operator partners to launch the A350 route.
Signing the agreement at the World Travel Market London 2017 at ExCel London were Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun and Adrian Keating, Malaysia Airlines Regional Manager UK, Ireland, and Europe and North America.
“This partnership will help to create even greater opportunities to increase the growing number of tourists and business travellers from UK and Ireland flying to Sabah,” said Masidi, adding that the statistics by Sabah Tourism Board revealed that in 2016, there were 35,901 arrivals from these key markets, a seven percent increase compared to 2015. The overall international arrivals in 2016 recorded more than 1.1 million visitors, a notable significant increase of 15.4 percent compared to 2015.
On Malaysia Airlines, visitors to Kota Kinabalu grew by 57% from January to September 2017 to reach 10,523 arrivals compared to the same period in 2016.
According to Keating, Malaysia Airlines is a brand that is embedded in the culture and diversity of Malaysia and we are delighted to renew our partner with the Sabah Tourism Board to showcase all that the region has to offer.
“Whether you want to explore the heights of Mount Kinabalu or relax on a paradise beach, Sabah is the perfect place to start your Malaysian adventure,” he added.
Also present were Suzaini Sabdin Ghani, Deputy General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board and Daniel Roman, Assistant Manager Marketing, Sabah Tourism Board (UK, Europe and US Market).
The Sabah Tourism delegation was led by Masidi and also participated by Borneo Nature Tours, Borneo Adventures, Shangri La’s Rasa Ria, Rustic Borneo, and Borneo Sandakan Tours.
World Travel Market London is the leading global event for the travel industry, generating more than ¢G2.8 billion of business contracts between attendees.
Over three days, the travel industry comes together as almost 5,000 exhibiting destinations, technology and private sector companies meet and network with 51,000 travel professionals, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and tourism ministers.