KENINGAU: Sabah is confident of registering more than 1.7 million tourist arrivals this  year as the state continues to register an increasing trend since the reopening of borders  post-Covid-19 pandemic. 

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said Sabah registered a total of  792,899 visitor arrivals from January to April this year, comprising 565,424 domestic  and 227,475 international visitors, marking a 94.1 per cent increase compared to  408,530 for the corresponding period last year. 

"This bodes well for Sabah as we continue to push for more air connectivity into Sabah  to add to the current weekly 100 international flights with a total seat capacity of 18,164  and domestic flights of 366 with a total seat capacity of 60,303," he said at the Federal  Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Programme with the Community at the  Sports Complex here last night. 

Hajiji said the State Government strives to develop the tourism sector through upgrading  basic tourism facilities for the convenience and safety of tourists as well as developing  and upskilling community-based tourism (CoBT) operators. 

He said the State Government gives priority to CoBT and wants it to be expanded  throughout the state so that more operators in the rural areas will benefit from the  economic opportunities. 

The Chief Minister said in 2019, two pilot CoBT projects in Kiulu, Tuaran and Kadamaian,  Kota Belud had performed exceptionally well with Kiulu generating RM5.45 million in  revenue, attracting 54,000 visitors and creating 300 jobs while the project in Kadamaian  had generated RM2.57 million revenue, attracted 217,000 visitors and created 251 jobs. 

CoBT has since been adopted in many districts in the state including in the interior and  Keningau, which are a tourism haven for adventure, culture, environment, food and  history enthusiasts. 

It was in this respect, he said that the State Government through the State Tourism,  Culture and Environment Ministry had allocated RM10 million under its Sabah New Deal  initiative to repair basic tourism infrastructure in the rural areas, benefitting not only  Keningau but also Nabawan, Tenom and Tambunan.

"We are also proud because other states in Malaysia like Terengganu, Melaka, Sarawak and Pahang has looked to Sabah to learn from our success in developing the rural  tourism industry. 

"We are confident that by 2030, Sabah will achieve 80 percent ASEAN standard compliance target for CoBT in Sabah," he said. 

To date, Sabah has won various awards such as the ASEAN Community Based Tourism  Award, ASEAN Homestay Award, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Best  Village Tourism and the World Crafts Council Award of Excellence for Handicraft, Asia  Pacific Region. 

"I hope today’s MOTAC with the Keningau community programme will encourage community involvement in introducing the arts, culture, heritage and local cultural  activities to the masses and foreign visitors. 

"It is an apt platform to promote domestic tourism and boost public awareness on the  Visit Malaysia Year 2025 and Cuti-Cuti Malaysia campaigns, which will contribute to  more income from tourism for the state and country," he said. 

He also thanked the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing for  announcing a RM2 million allocation to upgrade tourism infrastructures in Keningau.  

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I/Minister of Agricuture, Fisheries and Food  Industry Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and  Culture, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and  Environment, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and local dignitaries. 

Ends