By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The state capital is being positioned as a premium tourism destination, with a particular focus on its renowned seafood offerings.
Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said the city's seafood industry is among the best in the region, offering a wide range of fresh and high-quality options across numerous restaurants.
"Seafood in Kota Kinabalu is among the best, with a variety of restaurants offering fresh and delicious selections.
"This is part of DBKK's (Kota Kinabalu City Hall) efforts, together with other agencies, to promote the city as a 'seafood city' known for its fisheries products," he said during a breaking of fast event with the media.
Present was Sabah Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Sabin said domestic tourists, particularly from Peninsular Malaysia, remain a key pillar of the state's tourism sector.
"We cannot take domestic tourists lightly. In terms of numbers, they outnumber international visitors, and their spending is also generally higher," he said.
Sabin added that many visitors from Peninsular Malaysia travel to Sabah not only for leisure but also for official functions, including meetings, conferences and study visits organised by government ministries and departments.
Such events often involve large groups of between 50 and 150 participants, sometimes reaching up to 200 when family members are included, contributing significantly to the local economy.
"When they stay for three nights, the level of spending is substantial. Many senior officials also stay in higher-priced hotel rooms, which further boosts the hospitality sector," he said.
Sabin added that there was a growing trend of municipal councils from Peninsular Malaysia visiting Kota Kinabalu for benchmarking and knowledge-sharing programmes.
"Last year alone, we received visits almost twice a month from the peninsula. This reflects Kota Kinabalu's growing recognition as a reference city," he said.
According to Sabah Tourism statistics last year, there were 2,295,000 Malaysian visitors, with 1,498,709 international tourists.
Sabin said he hoped that continuous efforts would establish Kota Kinabalu not only as a smart city but also as a globally-recognised seafood destination, complemented by the warmth and hospitality of its people
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