ANN/THE STAR – Sabah earned MYR5 million in tourism revenue from just two large groups of visitors from China, said Sri Pelancongan Sabah, a subsidiary of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) yesterday.
Its chairman Ken Pan Ying On said that one of the groups was here for a meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) function. He said the visitors stayed in Sabah for two weeks and had a packed programme, plus a company gala.
“This generated income for tourism stakeholders in Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Tuaran and Semporna,” he said, adding that MICE groups have high spending power which can boost the local economy.
“Air connectivity has improved with more direct flights from major Chinese cities to Kota Kinabalu,” he said, adding that tourists seek varied experiences.
“These include leisure tourism, sightseeing, culture, diving, mountain climbing, forest adventures and underwater world explorations. All these activities mean money spent in Sabah,” he said.
He said…