Noredah Othman CEO Sabah Convention Bureau
KOTA KINABALU: The State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) has created two new portfolios, Sabah Convention Bureau and Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home Programme (Sabah-MM2H).
KePKAS Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the Sabah Convention Bureau is operational this year with the appointment of Noredah Othman as its Chief Executive Officer.
The Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home Programme (Sabah-MM2H) with an upcoming office to be manned by government officers.
With these, KePKAS now has eight portfolios.
The rest are Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, Sabah Museum Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, Environment Protection Department and Sabah Cultural Board.
Meanwhile, Christina said Sabah is targeting three million foreign tourists this year.
She said her ministry reached its target of 2.2 million tourists last year, with 2.6 million arrivals.
“For this year, we are targeting to receive up to 2.8 million to 3 million tourists with the support and cooperation from agencies including the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd (SPS).
“We are confident of reaching this target through several programmes implemented including the Sabah Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) and the establishment of the Sabah Convention Bureau,” she said during a luncheon with the media here Wednesday.
Joniston and Liew (standing) with members of the media at the luncheon.
Liew also said there is an ongoing effort by STB to bring in international flights to Sabah.
She added that she will be visiting western countries on the possibility of getting direct flights to Sabah but did not elaborate further.
She also said that they are expecting the arrival of more tourists from China by the end of March, this year.
Also present at the event were STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, the ministry’s permanent secretary Josie Lai, Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Datuk Mugunthan Vanar and Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association (KKJA) president Jimmy Goh.
Liew said that the event was held as a show of appreciation to members of the media in Sabah for providing good coverage and cooperation last year.
“I am happy and am pleased with the coverage given to the ministry, including the ministry’s six agencies namely STB, Sabah Parks, Sabah Museum Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, Environment Protection Department and Sabah Cultural Board. – Talantang
