KENINGAU: Tourism Malaysia expects this year's durian tourism sales to surpass last year's performance of RM1.7 million.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the inclusion of Sabah as one of the 12 states in this year's durian tour packages would boost sales.
"Last year's packages only covered seven states in the peninsula.
"The sales value of durian tourism packages in 2022 was RM107,000. This rose to RM1.6 million in 2023," he said after launching the two-day Sabah Durian Tourism Bazaar at the Durian Valley here.
"Target markets for the durian package include China, Japan, South Korea and Brunei, where the love for durian is strong.
"As they cannot get good durian in their countries, we should promote it so that people know that durians aren't just found in the peninsula, we have them in Sabah too.
"The response has been very positive. Today, we had many visitors who were eager to try our durians."
He said good cooperation between the ministry and the private sector was crucial to expanding the durian bazaar to other districts.
He said he saw significant potential for growth in durian agrotourism through close cooperation between the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, state government, Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah Durian and Tropical Fruit Planters Association (MaSDa).
"We provide training, promotion and marketing, not only within the country, but also internationally, so that people know that Sabah and other cities in the country offer unique packages."
Present were Sabah Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib, Keningau District Officer Peter Jonu Moinjil, Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, MaSDa president Duane Evans and De Green Farm chairman Tracey Liew.