Sabah hopes to open direct flights between KK and China's Jilin City

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah hopes to develop a direct tourism link with China's north eastern Jilin Province.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said they would hold a discussion with the Jilin Culture and Tourism Department officials to discuss the opening of a new flight route between Kota Kinabalu and the Jilin City.

She said among others during the planned working visit was to identify "Cross Promotion" between the two cities under the Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home (SBH-MM2H) programme.

She said the visit also aimed to foster collaboration in the areas of tourism and investment between the Jilin Province and the Sabah State Government.

She said the visit would be a prelude to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor witnessing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism, Infrastructure, Agriculture and Education with Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).

"Through this effort, we hope to be able to further develop the tourism sector in the state," she said during her speech at the Ministry's Outstanding Service Awards (APC) here.

On tourism, Liew said Sabah received 1.5 million visitors as of Nov 2022, adding that it was a good sign as it breached the state government target of one million visitors.

"This achievement is the outcome of Sabah Tourism Board's commitment and zeal in implementing Strategic Tourism and Promotion Marketing Plan Post-Pandemic," she said.

Liew urged all agencies and departments - Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Sabah Parks, Sabah Cultural Board (LKNS), Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Sabah Museum Department and Environmental Protection Department (EPD) - to work as a team.

She said that they focus towards putting Sabah as a premier eco-tourism destination, and enhance its image as a clean, healthy and safe state while safeguarding its cultural heritage and environment.

Liew said the Ministry's mission was to make the tourism industry the main contributor to Sabah's economy in tandem with the Sabah Maju Jaya development roadmap.

"It is also our responsibility to ensure protection and conservation of a cleaner and secure environment as well as preservation of our natural and cultural heritage for the state's future," she added.