Sabah Travel Fair launched in Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan, 22 Nov 08 - The 2nd Sabah Travel Fair in Brunei officially began yesterday at The Mall in Gadong and was officiated by Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari the Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei. To be held until 23 November 2008, the programme was organised by the Sabah Tourism Board, with support and collaboration from Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei.

Sabah Tourism Board's Deputy Chairman Datuk Sari Suhut, in his welcoming remarks, said that the fair's aim is to promote and showcase what Sabah has to offer to Brunei's population.

Sabah, he said, is located near the Sultanate, and yet there is a segment of the population who have not been to Sabah and vice versa. Hence, an event like this, which mainly aims to promote tourism between the two countries, is a win-win situation for both sides.

He cited some of the attractions that Sabah has to offer, including its diving spots, the orangutans in Sandakan, golfing (Sabah has five international courses), fresh seafood, mountain-climbing and shopping, as well as the recently opened 1Borneo Hypermall in KK.

Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, meanwhile, said the event is timely, as it coincided with the year-end school holidays. He urged members of the public to make full use of this opportunity to see what Sabah has to offer.

"The Malaysian High Commission is working very closely with Sabah to promote the state and Sarawak," he said in his speech. The fair offers special promotions and showcases upcoming products Sabah has to offer, as well as the best tour deals that are specially tailored to suit Bruneian consumers.

Yesterday's launching also saw a performance by the Bamboo Orchestra group from Sabah, who will continue performing throughout the three-day event. Participants include airlines, hotels and travel agencies from Sabah, as well as the Malaysia Airlines and RBA.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Pesta Pelancongan Sabah ke-2 bermula

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jumaat 21 Nov 08 - Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia ke Brunei Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari hari ini melancarkan pembukaan rasmi Pesta Pelancongan Sabah ke-2 di The Mall, Gadong.

Pesta pelancongan yang akan diadakan sehingga 23 November ini dianjurkan oleh Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah dengan sokongan dan kerjasama Pelancongan Malaysia dan Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Brunei.

Timbalan Pengerusi Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah, Datuk Sari Suhut, dalam ucapan alu-aluan, berkata matlamat pesta pelancongan itu adalah untuk mempromosi dan mempamerkan apa Sabah ada untuk ditawarkan kepada penduduk Brunei.

Sabah, katanya, walaupun terletak berhampiran dengan Brunei namun terdapat sebilangan penduduk yang tidak pernah berkunjung ke Sabah dan begitu juga sebaliknya.

Oleh itu, acara seperti ini, yang matlamat utamanya untuk mempromosi pelancongan antara Sabah dan Brunei, akan memberi manfaat kepada kedua-dua negara.

Beliau menyebut beberapa tarikan utama di Sabah seperti tempat penyelaman, Orang Utan di Sandakan, permainan golf (Sabah mempunyai lima padang golf bertaraf antarabangsa), makanan laut segar, pendakian gunung dan membeli belah dengan pembukaan 1Borneo Hypermall di Kota Kinabalu baru-baru ini.

Sementara Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari berkata pesta pelancongan itu tepat pada waktunya kerana ia berbetulan dengan musim cuti sekolah hujung tahun.

Beliau menggesa orang ramai menggunakan sepenuhnya peluang ini untuk meninjau sendiri apa yang ditawarkan di Sabah.

"Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia bekerjasama rapat dengan Sabah dalam mempromosi Sabah dan Sarawak," kata beliau dalam ucapannya.

Pesta pelancongan tiga hari itu menawarkan promosi khas dan produk baru Sabah termasuk tawaran pelancongan terbaik yang diadakan khusus untuk memenuhi keperluan pelancong dari Brunei.

Majlis pelancaran hari ini turut dimeriahkan dengan persembahan oleh kumpulan Orkestra Bambu dari Sabah yang akan mengadakan persembahan sepanjang pesta itu.

Peserta dalam pesta pelancongan itu termasuk syarikat penerbangan, hotel dan agensi pelancongan dari Sabah termasuk Syarikat Penerbangan Malaysia dan Syarikat Penerbangan Diraja Brunei.

Ihsan Media Permata

Kota Kinabalu to see hike in tourist arrivals

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Saturday, November 22, 2008 - THE number of tourist arrivals in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, will continue to increase despite the global financial crisis that ensued, says Datuk Sari Suhut, Deputy Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board.

Datuk Sari Suhut said here yesterday that Sabah recorded 7 million tourists visiting the state last year and the number will continue to increase with the opening of Borneo's biggest hypermall, 1Borneo.

Between the months of January and September this year, Bruneian tourists arriving in Sabah amounted to more than 50,000 which make Bruneians as second to Korean tourists travelling to Sabah, he said.

Speaking at the Sabah Travel Fair 2008 launching ceremony at The Mall, Gadong, yesterday, he pointed out that with the school holidays fast approaching, Sabah is an ideal family getaway which only takes few hours by road to arrive at the destination and only few minutes by air.

Present at the launching ceremony as the chief guest was Dato Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei.

In his speech, the chief guest stated that the fair is a "win to win situation" for Brunei and Sabah alike where both countries help each other to promote tourism.

He explained that Sabah is helping to promote tourism in Brunei as well.

"Because of the close proximity between the two countries travellers will eventually not miss the opportunities to visit Brunei after their visit to Sabah." he said.

Yesterday's event also saw the Sabah traditional musical performance by the Sabah Bamboo Orchestra.

1Borneo, the first and largest lifestyle hypermall in Borneo, will be Sabah's biggest tourist attraction this year.

Located in Kota Kinabalu, 1Borneo is set to be the ultimate shopping experience for locals and foreign tourists alike.

The hypermall consists of 4 international and regional chain hotels, condominiums, auto gallery, oceanarium and discovery centre, handicraft and cultural centre, spa and fitness centre, amusement centre, bowling centre, cineplex and gourmet lane.

Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Pelancongan ke Sabah meningkat 8.4 peratus

GADONG, 21 November  - Rakyat Negara Brunei Darussalam yang melancong ke Sabah dalam tahun 2007 mencatatkan sejumlah 79,861 orang dan sejak bulan Januari sehingga bulan September tahun ini warganegara ini telah melancong ke Sabah berjumlah 50,696 orang yang merupakan satu peningkatan sebanyak 8.4 peratus berbanding pada tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.

Manakala secara keseluruhan pelacongan yang datang ke Sabah dalam tahun 2007 telah mencatatkan sebanyak 2,478,443 orang.

Jumlah itu telah di keluarkan dalam kenyataan siaran akhbar oleh Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah yang diedarkan kepada wartawan Pelita Brunei di Majlis Pelancaran Pameran Pengembaraan Sabah 2008 (Sabah Travel Fair 2008) berlangsung di The Mall Gadong di sini.

Majlis Pelancaran Pameran Pelancongan Sabah itu di sempurnakan oleh Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia ke Negara Brunei Darussalam, Tuan Yang Terutama, Dato Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.

Pameran Pelancongan Sabah 2008 berjalan selama tiga hari dan sepanjang pameran itu beberapa promosi-promosi istimewa dan maklumat terkini dan produk Sabah akan datang turut ditawarkan dalam pameran itu.

Di samping itu juga turut menyediakan perbincangan mengenai pelancongan yang terbaik kepada pelanggan-pelanggan di negara ini.

Bagi memeriahkan sempena pelancaran pameran pelancongan Sabah turut dihiburkan dengan persembahan Kumpulan Orchestra Bambbo daripada Sabah.