KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia wants to improve the global perception of Lahad Datu and Semporna by increasing media coverage on the areas following the intrusion of Sulu gunmen.
Deputy director-general Datuk Azizan Noordin said this would lead to increasing the tourism appeal in the two areas and quell fears of would-be visitors since the conflict erupted in February.
"We are also working with the various embassies and high commissions hoping that they will drop their advisories against travel to these areas.
“The situation in the areas is currently under control, and is not expected to deteriorate,” he said after launching the United Federation of Travel Agents' Association (UFTAA) Global Travel and Tourism Conference on Thursday.
Good solution.Media have the power to influence people surely it would help to improve the bad perception toward Lahad Datu.
ReplyDeleteMATTA Sabah chairman KL Tan said the industry could fully recover in the space of a few months.
ReplyDelete“Events will also be on as usual. For example, the Regatta Lepa at the end of the month, which is a major annual event in Semporna, will proceed as planned,” he said.
Tan also said the private sector is expected to collaborate with the Sabah Tourism special task force to highlight the real situation in the state.
ReplyDeleteTourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen had earlier said that under the task force, several international travel writers and bloggers will be invited here to determine for themselves if Sabah was safe for travel.
ReplyDeleteTourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and ourism, Culture and Environment Sabah minister Datuk Masidi Manjun both expressed concern over negative travel advisories in foreign countries that still advice against all but essential travelling to the east coast of Sabah
ReplyDeleteCountries like Britain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan and China had yet to withdraw its travel advisories which advised visitors to Sabah to travel with “extreme caution”.
ReplyDeleteCountries like Britain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan and China had yet to withdraw its travel advisories which advised visitors to Sabah to travel with “extreme caution”.
ReplyDeleteTan believed that cancellations and deferment of holiday arrangements would continue unless the negative travel advisories were withdrawn.
ReplyDeleteBoth Tan and Masidi also urged foreign embassies to send their representatives to Sabah so they could later advise their respective countries to lift the travel advisories
ReplyDeleteThe establishment of the special security area covering Sabah's eastern coastline will further boost the confidence of tourists as well as tourism players including island tour operators.
ReplyDeleteState Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the creation of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) showed that their wellbeing and safety was the top priority of the government "despite the fact that Sabah has all along enjoyed peace and stability"
ReplyDeleteCulture and Environment Sabah minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that government have lot of work to do to woo back tourist to Sabah. The federal and the state authorities are doing their best to boost confidence in the indusrty in Sabah.
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