KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry is looking to expand tourism activities with Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.
Its minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state government is ready to collaborate with Saudi Arabia to mutually promote their tourism sector and cultures.
“It is time that Sabah expands its tourism potential, especially among the Middle East countries, and to diversify our travel packages to enhance our tourism and culture industry,” Jafry said in a statement yesterday.
He said this was among matters raised during a courtesy visit by Asean Travel Saudi Arabia managing director Fahad Alotaibi to Wisma Tun Fuad Stephen here yesterday.
Jafry said the zero-Covid-19 policy in China has limited arrivals of tourists from the mainland, and tourism industry players need to explore other markets.
“We need to find new alternatives, and focus on other markets that have opened their borders, including Saudi Arabia. We are very positive about its impact,” he said.
However, he said the government is looking into several matters, including efforts to attract foreign airline companies to offer direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Kota Kinabalu, without the need for transit flights from Kuala Lumpur.
The ministry, he said, also wants to bring restaurant operators from Middle East countries to Sabah, so that tourists could easily dine on familiar delicacies.
Jafry also said tourism players should explore new initiatives in creating Muslim-friendly tourism.
“Muslim-friendly tourism will become a game-changer in Sabah’s tourism industry,” he said. – The Vibes, May 27, 2022
