Sabah doubling efforts to attract more visitors from Thailand

BANGKOK: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) will work with Tourism Malaysia Thailand, local airlines and travel agents to intensify efforts to increase the number of tourists from Thailand.
Its deputy general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani said STB plans to tap the country's high end market, expatriates and long haul market through collaboration with tour agents and travel operators in Thailand.
"Sabah received a positive growth of 4.8% for Thailand visitors from Jan till Feb this year as compared to the same period last year," she said after the presentation of Sabah's tourism products here, recently which was also attended by Tourism Malaysia Thailand's deputy director Mazreena Mohd Yusof.
The presentation was held in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia Thailand.
According to Suzaini, STB would also participate in Thailand's International Travel Fair this year, in its effort to engage and develop business relationship with tourism players in the country to achieve the desired results.
The board will also join hands with Thai Airways and its subsidiary, Thai Smile and the country's largest online community to fly Thailand's reputable travel bloggers and media influencers to Sabah for a familiarisation trip this year.
The joint effort with Thai Airways and Thai Smile followed the launching of direct flights to Kota Kinabalu by the airlines from March 26 this year.
Through the direct flight, she said, Thais and foreign visitors from Thailand were able to visit Sabah on a shorter flying hours duration without any transit stops.
On the presentation of Sabah tourism products, Suzaini said, it was to update travel agents on the country's latest attractions as well as to promote adventure tours in Sabah with the focus on Mount Kinabalu.
Representatives from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges were also present during the presentation to brief participants on accomodation at Kinabalu Park and Manukan Island. — Bernama