KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourism sector has yet to fully rebound from the impacts of Covid-19, prompting the need for ongoing efforts to stimulate the industry.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said however, there is a positive trend with an increase in both international and domestic tourist arrivals.
According to the management of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), up to 4,578,661 passengers have been processed from Jan 1 to Aug 5 this year.
Liew said this information was shared by Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd senior airport manager (KKIA) Jefry Ramli during a briefing at her post-cabinet meeting on Aug 7.
"When compared with the total of 5,576,110 passengers for the corresponding period in 2019, the overall recovery rate is 82%," she said.
For the domestic segment, the recovery rate is 92% while the international segment has recovered by 63%, said Liew in a statement.
"We have to continue coming up with ways to attract more visitors and boost tourism activities in the state," she said.
On the airport's phase one toilet upgrading project, she said the refurbishment of five existing toilets, costing RM2.5mil, is expected to be completed by mid-September.
Phase two, involving the refurbishment of 21 existing toilets, is slated to begin in Oct.
