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Datuk Masidi Manjun
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3rd April, 2008
By MARRYAN RAZAN
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah targets to earn RM48.5 billion from tourism by 2025, says Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
In his keynote speech at a seminar on opportunities in the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) at Beverly Hotel here yesterday, Masidi said under the SDC, the state will market Sabah as an exclusive destination and attract quality tourists who will spend more and stay longer.
The state will promote eco-tourism and new products while involving the rural people, he said.
“In addition, the tourism strategy should also benefit the people of Sabah and enhance their quality of life,” he said in his speech read by his ministry’s permanent secretary, Suzannah Liaw.
Tourism, Masidi pointed out, is one of the main contributors to the state economy besides agriculture and manufacturing, and last year it contributed about RM4.72 billion, or 14.72 per cent of the state’s gross domestic product, benefiting not just the government but also everyone in the state including taxi drivers and businesspeople.
Masidi noted that average tourist spending in the state has been on the rise – from just RM2,517 in 2006 it is expected to jump to RM5,364 by 2025.
Earnings in rural-based tourism, including from handicrafts and homestay programmes, have also been rising, from RM1.5 million in 2006 to an expected RM48 million by 2025, he added.
While tourism offers many job opportunities for people with a background or skills in such diverse fields as communications, IT, transport, construction, manufacturing and finance, the key to success in tourism is a quality frontline workforce, he stressed.
“I urge those wishing to venture into tourism to enhance their knowledge and skills in the relevant fields, but they should at least have a good personality and education and be generous with their smiles,” he said, adding tourists always expect the best possible service and their expectations keep on rising.
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