STB CEO Julinus Jeffrey Jimit (centre) and Senior Marketing Manager Humphrey Ginibun (2nd left) meeting Qatar Airways senior vice president (Eastern Region) Marwan Kolelist (2nd right). Also in photo are Qatar Airways Head of Digital & Marketing, Alan Lee (left) and Regional Marketing Manager, Oommen Kuruvilla (right).
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s appeal as a holiday hotspot is catching the eye of Middle Eastern market in the recent travel trade show in Dubai early this month.
Key players in the Arabian travel business expressed admiration for Sabah’s offerings, with Qatar Airways Senior Vice President (Eastern Region) Marwan Kolelist likening the Land Below the Wind to Maldives while highlighting its affordability.
To tap into this interest, the Sabah Tourism Board teamed up with Qatar Airways for a month-long awareness campaign from December 2023 to January 2024.
This strategic partnership aimed to introduce Sabah to Qatar Airways’ clientele, setting the stage for increased visibility and interest among Middle Eastern travellers.
In a follow up to this initiative, Discover Qatar senior manager Angus Tandy, who is also overseeing Qatar Holidays, agreed to work with Sabah Tourism on a joint marketing campaign to promote tour packages to Sabah.
These developments were conveyed to the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) team, led by chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, during a business-to-business engagement at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai that took place from 6 – 9 May 2024.
Present were STB Senior Marketing Manager, Humphrey Ginibun and Assistant Marketing Manager, Siti Fatimah Abdul Rahman.
Additionally, the Sabah Tourism Board team also received encouraging responses from key players of Holidays by Flydubai and Saudia Holidays to include Sabah as a new vacation destination in Malaysia to their clients.
Future effort may include arranging visit by social media influencers, aiming to attract families, friends, and followers through their authentic experiences.
Sabah Tourism participation in the ATM, under the Tourism Malaysia pavilion, focused on highlighting Sabah’s appeal as holiday destinations for families, honeymooners, nature enthusiasts, wildlife enthusiasts, diving enthusiasts, and students seeking an educational experience, among others.
