Masidi (centre) and Suresh (fourth right) in a photocall with the delegation during the courtesy call.
KOTA KINABALU (May 5): Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun has called on the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sabah and Labuan and the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to adopt a more strategic approach in aligning tourism marketing with current market conditions.
He said several hotels in Kota Kinabalu have been directly affected, with occupancy rates showing a recent decline.
Masidi said the downturn is believed to be driven by two main factors — global uncertainties, including conflicts in the Middle East, and shifting travel patterns, with tourists increasingly opting for emerging destinations such as Vietnam.
The matter was highlighted by MAH Sabah and Labuan chairman Suresh Ramasamy during a courtesy call on Masidi at his office here.
Masidi, who is also state Finance Minister, stressed the need to strengthen domestic tourism promotion, particularly targeting high-potential markets such as the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Bahru.
He said there is significant potential to attract more high-income domestic tourists from these areas, which could help revitalise the state’s tourism industry.
At the same time, Masidi said Sabah must be more proactive in developing new and unique tourism products to remain competitive amid growing regional competition.
“With the right strategies and fresh product offerings, Sabah still has its own strengths to attract tourists, both domestic and international,” he said.