sabah tourism
IN PERSON 41
Datuk Joniston Bangkuai
A conversation with... Chairman, Sabah Tourism
“More and more FITs and families are coming to Sabah for long stays, to enjoy the sun, sand and sea and a little bit of soft adventure"
Where is Sabah? Sabah is part of Malaysia and is in East Malaysia – specifi cally on the far north of the island of Borneo. It borders Sarawak, also part of Malaysia, and Kalimantan Indonesia.
What is Sabah’s main appeal to British visitors? It is different, with an 'exoticness' and a rich biodiversity. Plus the people are warm and welcoming. There is also the idea of visiting a faraway island with age-old forests, which have been fi lmed and documented by none other than Sir David Attenborough. His fi lms show Sabah’s carnivorous plants, giant earthworms, fl ying snakes, blood-sucking leeches, orang utans, proboscis monkeys and many more examples of strange wildlife not found anywhere else in the world.
What are Sabah’s main attractions? Sabah’s main draw cards are very much nature based: Mt Kinabalu, a World Heritage Site; Danum Valley; Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre; river cruising to see Bornean mammals (proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants); and dive sites on the island’s east coast, such as Sipadan Island
What's an ideal Sabah itinerary? After arriving in Kota Kinabalu a seven-day itinerary should include Sandakan, to see the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre; Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Rainforest Discovery Centre; the Sukau Rainforest Lodge and a river and nocturnal cruise to see the proboscis monkey and other wildlife; the Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu; Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs.
What will surprise a visitor to Sabah? The modern capital city of Kota Kinabalu and also the fact that most people can
speak English! There are modern chain resorts that will be familiar to most travellers, an
abundance of good seafood that is cheap, and, most of all, a multi-racial mix of
people that makes the
state unique. There are more than 32 ethnic groups living in Sabah, all with different cultures, languages and dialects, yet they are still connected to one another and, in some cases, to other Bornean ethnic communities in Brunei and Kalimantan Indonesia.
unknown to most travel agents and homeworkers. Borneo offers an exotic and somewhat rustic destination for FITs and groups that is both very affordable and memorable. The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and many other Royals have visited Sabah to see the wilderness for themselves.
“Borneo is different, with an 'exoticness' and a rich diversity, with wildlife not found anywhere else in the world”
Is it easy to get to Kota Kinabulu? Kota Kinabalu is accessible via many international airlines, by connecting direct from major cities around the Asia Pacifi c. These include Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Seoul, Perth, Manila, Cebu, Brunei, Jakarta, Bali and more.
Why should a UK travel agent sell Sabah over other destinations in the same region? Because Sabah is at the same time both well known and
www.sellinglonghaul.com
How important is the British market to Sabah? The UK market has always been a strong traditional market for Sabah, and within the top 10 for us. British roots in Borneo started during the colonial days, after which many British residents and offi cers stayed and their families came to visit. A few British companies have been set up and are still in existence today. In recent years SAGA Holidays has sent regular visitors to Sabah for long stays (about two weeks) in chain hotels. Sabah also gets gap year students visiting for backpacking trips or volunteering work. There are UK-based NGOs, especially in conservation such as the Orang Utan Appeal in Sepilok, which takes in young UK volunteers. Now more and more FITs and families are coming to Sabah for long stays, to enjoy everything from sun, sand and sea with a little bit of soft adventure while staying in our modern international properties.
Pictured above: Maliau Basin (inset) and Mabul Island in Sabah plus, left, the state's famous proboscis monkeys
DAVID KIRKLAND / SABAH TOURISM BOARD
MEWOT / SABAH TOURISM BOARD
MEWOT / SABAH TOURISM BOARD
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