MATTA welcomes Sabah Trade and Tourism office in Singapore

 By Olivia Miwil - June 29, 2021 @ 8:52pm

Having a Sabah trade and tourism office in Singapore will put the state on the right track to stimulate its economy and tourism sector. - AFP

Having a Sabah trade and tourism office in Singapore will put the state on the right track to stimulate its economy and tourism sector. - AFP

KOTA KINABALU: Having a Sabah trade and tourism office in Singapore will put the state on the right track to stimulate its economy and tourism sector.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Sabah Chairman Lawrence Chin said it supported the potential bilateral collaboration as announced by state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajji Noor yesterday.

Hajiji had said the state agreed in principal for the office after a virtual call with Singaporean High Commissioner to Malaysia His Excellency Vanu Gopala Menon.

Chin said with collaboration especially in the tourism sector that could offer environmental and social benefits like employment, as well as opportunities to generate significant returns, notably in hotel infrastructures and theme parks which Sabah was lacking.

"During the peak season, there has been a growing demand for good-quality hotels and international theme parks in Sabah.

"This will definitely encourage more Singapore investors to enter the hospitality market in the state to build more four-to five-star category and other tourism products," he said in a statement.

MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said it was timely to take the strategic approach, taking into consideration that Singapore remains one of the key aviation hubs in the world and the region.

"We need to promote crucial air connectivity into Sabah for international tourist post pandemic travel.

"The aviation industry has been badly hit by the pandemic travel restrictions and the global aviation industry is expected to return to pre-Covid-19 level towards the end of 2023 subject to evolution of the pandemic.

"Almost all foreign airlines have pulled out from Kota Kinabalu therefore we need an aviation hub with more frequent flights such as Singapore to connect us to the bigger market catchment."

Before the pandemic, there were 21 direct flights weekly to Kota Kinabalu from Singapore.

Tan added the trade and tourism office set up would complement the marketing and promotions effort to lure more international tourists connected to Sabah.



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