Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (fourth from left ) leading tourism delegates to meet with Uzbekistan's ambassador to Malaysia Ravshan Usmano in Kuala Lumpur.
KOTA KINABALU: Uzbekistan is keen to learn from Sabah tourism players about the market with the aim of building mutually beneficial travel platforms.
Its Ambassador to Malaysia Ravshan Usmanov said Sabah's stunning natural environment and ocean will stimulate the interest of Uzbek citizens, who currently consider Langkawi as their preferred destination in Malaysia.
"Uzbeks rely on Langkawi, but it's time for Sabah to promote itself. The sea and landscape in Sabah are unique. The seafood is some of the best I've had in the country.
"We are a landlocked country, which is why our people love the sea. That is what we need," he told delegates from the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) who visited him at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur recently.
STB chairman and state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, and MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang were among those who paid the courtesy call on Usmanov.
They discussed prospects for bilateral tourism cooperation, according to a statement released by STB on Tuesday (June 21).
"I believe our products complement one another. We sell tourism centred on history, architecture and religion. We should consider a familiarisation tour to share our knowledge.
"I'm also of the opinion that we should hold online business-to-business sessions with MATTA tour companies and Sabah travel operators soon," Usmanov added, while inviting Malaysian tourism players to the Tashkent International Tourism Fair in November.
As for Sabah's interest in fostering closer ties with Uzbekistan, Joniston said the state was eager to help bring in Uzbek citizens and vice versa.
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"We recently met with Uzbekistan-based tour operator Osmon Aero and learned that it is keen to introduce charter flights connecting Tashkent and Kota Kinabalu. We'd like to collaborate on this.
"Aside from tourism, Sabah's most important economic pillars are agriculture and manufacturing. This might be a wonderful investment opportunity for Uzbekistan as well," he said.
Osmon Aero and Malaysia Airlines have inked an agreement to launch Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent-Kuala Lumpur charter flights in July.
Tan also invited tourism players from Uzbekistan to participate in the forthcoming national MATTA Fair from Sept 2-4 to tap into the direct consumer market and create more awareness among Malaysian holidaymakers.
