JOHOR BAHRU: Tourism Malaysia is continuing its efforts to assist industry players from Sabah and Labuan to stimulate the tourism sector in the southern region of peninsular Malaysia.
They brought 18 travel agencies, seven hotels and three airlines namely Malaysia Airlines (MAS), AirAsia and MASwings to offer incentive tour packages, corporate family day programmes and business travel packages to buyers in Johor.
"The programme is aimed at providing support for tour operators, especially in Sabah and Labuan to spur the revival of the domestic tourism industry," said Tourism Malaysia's Domestic and Events Division senior director Iskandar Mirza Mohd Yusof.
He was speaking at the launch of 'My Destination Sabah and Labuan Meet Johor Roadshow 2022' programme at the Fraser Place Puteri Harbour here yesterday.
The roadshow to Johor was a continuation of Tourism Malaysia's efforts in promoting domestic tourism following a similar programme in Penang on Dec 2, last year, he said.
He said various attractive packages were offered to make Sabah and Labuan the favourite choices for tourists, besides the promotion of meetings, seminars, conferences and team building programmes.
The sales mission featured a business to business (B2B) concept to further boost the travel destinations, products and packages of both sides, he said.
During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed to move ahead in reviving domestic tourism pending the reopening of the country's international borders.
The MoU was signed between Sabah and Johor tourism consortiums which were formed to foster cooperation in the promotion of tourism packages in the two states, he said.
The Sabah tourism players involved in the consortium were Funholiday Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd; Travel4You Sdn Bhd and i-World Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd while from the Johor side were JSG Holidays Sdn Bhd; Razi Rafi Explorer Travel and Tours and Executive Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd.
Funholiday managing director Connie Chong who signed on behalf of Sabah consortium, said for starters, they are targeting 100 people from Johor to Sabah.
"Although it is a small number, at least we start with something as these 100 people can help to rebuild the confidence of travelling again in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic," she said.
Tourism Malaysia Sabah deputy director Trecey Tojuka who led the strong delegation from Sabah said Johor was chosen for the roadshow due to the availability of direct flights provided by AirAsia twice per day.
Also present was Sabah Tourism Board (STB) marketing manager Tracelynn Peter Jupili who shared a virtual journey of Sabah's products and highlighted the state's rural community-based tourism.
Labuan Corporation's Tourism, Culture and Arts assistant director Zunaidah Hamzah in her presentation highlighted the island national geopark, islands and beaches which offered one of the best sunset views in the world.
Sabah Tourist Association chairman Tonny Chew hopes the people in Johor will take advantage of the various tour packages in the offing as this is the best time to spend their holiday in Sabah due to its attractive prices and less congestion.
He said tourists can now travel to world renowned Sipadan Island in Semporna without having to make advance bookings such as pre-Covid-19 days where they have to wait for at least six months.
Present was Tourism Malaysia Southern Region director Solehuddin Ahmad.