Embrace changes in tourism and travel pattern

Masidi (3rd left) beating the gong to launch the three-day travel fair whilst Winston (2nd left),looks on

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourism players has been asked to embrace the use of technology to stay in the business as now the travel pattern has changed.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun in making the call said nowadays most of the tourists book their own travel and accommodation via online services.

“The bad news is that the tour agents are getting less commissions from the hotels and airlines. So they must re-evaluate their services and adapt to the changes,” he stressed. 

“Therefore, we must change according to time as the travel pattern has shifted to the use of technology and no longer use the conventional way of making bookings through the tour agents” said Masidi during the launch of the three-day Sabah International Travel Fair 2016 at Oceanus Waterfront Mall.

The change is inevitable because according to statistic some 59 per cent of the visitors to Sabah are FIT (foreign individual traveller) who made their own bookings via online, he pointed out.

He disclosed that he had directed the Sabah Tourism Board to embrace the use of technology via the social media network such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to engage directly with the customers.

“The travel pattern has also changed its focus from Europe and United States to Asia now,” said Masidi, adding that the new development has given Sabah the advantage because it is located just five hours flight to all the Asia regions.

And even air travelling are cheaper nowadays as many major airlines has shifted their status to low budget airlines now, he stated.

He said all the changes has made the tourism industry getting competitive as Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and others region also have their natural beautiful sceneries and friendly smiles.

“Although Sabahans are very shy to smile but we should leverage on our diverse multiracial who are living in peace and harmony. The most tolerance Malaysians are living in Sabah and this is our biggest asset and selling point which are a paradise to the Europeans” said Masidi.

He also urged the local tour agents to come up with more adventure packages because according to statistic some 80 per cent of the visitors to Sabah are those who are under-15.

“Meaning that they like outdoor activities such as white water rafting, climbing Mount Kinabalu, islands hopping and hiking,” he said.

Meanwhile, he also disclosed that the State’s tourism industry has experienced a positive growth as the tourists arrival for June and July this year has gone up by 4.2 per cent compared to the same period of last year.

“The biggest contribution comes from China as their arrivals has increased by 48.2 per cent in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period of last year,” Masidi disclosed.

Similarly, he said the arrivals from South Korea and Taiwan has also went up by 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period of last year.

And by end of this October, he said Kota Kinabalu International Airport will be welcoming 153 flights per week from China. As such, travel agents should improve tour packages and the level of services in the hotels should also be upgraded.

Also present were Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents chairman Dato Seri Winston Liaw, Malaysia China Tourism Association Sabah chapter president Lawrence Wong and organizing chairwoman Dolly Jimayol.-AG