HAIKOU, China: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sabah Chapter has undertaken a familiarisation trip to Hainan province in China to strengthen tourism ties and foster long-term collaboration between both regions.
Its Chairman, Mohd Azlan Saleh Abd Salam, stated that the trip aims to enhance co-operation in agro-tourism, sustainable farming, and rural economic development—areas where Sabah and Hainan share common strengths.
Azlan made these remarks during the Sabah–Hainan tourism industry exchange and sharing conference, themed “Beautiful China Chasing Dreams in Southeast Asia”, held at the Hainan TIDE Group building.
The five-day programme, from 21 to 25 January, involved 30 Sabah-based travel agents who visited Haikou and Sanya to explore local tourism products and attractions.
The five-day programme, from 21 to 25 January, involved 30 Sabah-based travel agents who visited Haikou and Sanya to explore local tourism products and attractions.
He noted that Sabah and Hainan share many similarities, including vibrant urban environments, strong agricultural foundations, and a growing tourism sector that emphasises sustainability and community involvement.
Through the visit, Azlan explained that the Sabah delegation hopes to gain insights into Hainan’s best practices in modern farming, technological adoption, and integrated agro-tourism models that could be adapted for Sabah.
He added that the trip also aims to lay the groundwork for long-term partnerships involving tourism stakeholders, farmers, investors, and policymakers from both regions.
Azlan highlighted that cross-sector collaboration is vital in building a resilient, future-ready tourism industry, particularly in rural and agro-based tourism.
He expressed appreciation to the organisers and hosts for their warm hospitality, noting that the programme provided an important platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and relationship-building.
Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, who addressed the meeting via a pre-recorded video, reiterated the board’s support for efforts to strengthen tourism cooperation between Sabah and Hainan.
He commended Matta Sabah’s initiative in facilitating direct engagement between industry players from both regions, emphasising that such collaborations are crucial for product development, market access, and joint promotions.
Jimit stated that Sabah welcomes closer cooperation with Hainan’s tourism partners to promote Sabah as a nature-rich and culturally vibrant destination.
He further noted that enhanced collaboration among industry players would help generate new tourism opportunities and deepen mutual understanding between Sabah and Hainan.
Meanwhile, Yu Hui, President of Hainan Taide Tourism Investment Group Co Ltd, expressed strong interest in deepening cross-border tourism cooperation with Sabah, recognising the complementary nature of both destinations.
Yu explained that Sabah’s rainforests and eco-tourism appeal complement Hainan’s coastal attractions and resort offerings.
He highlighted that Hainan is actively developing the Hainan Free Trade Port and positioning itself as an international tourism consumption centre, offering products such as duty-free shopping, healthcare and wellness tourism, cruise and yacht experiences, aerospace tourism, and Li and Miao ethnic cultural attractions.
In contrast, he noted that Sabah is renowned for its eco-tourism assets, world-class diving sites, and multicultural heritage, making collaboration between the two highly promising.
Yu revealed that the group aims to work with Matta Sabah to create multi-stop travel itineraries, allowing visitors to experience both destinations in a single journey—paving the way for a China–Malaysia cross-border tourism corridor.
He described the group as a comprehensive tourism enterprise, involved in local tour services, guide management, outbound travel, and online platform operations.
Its subsidiary, Hainan Nanyang International Travel, utilises Southeast Asian route resources and charter flight capabilities to facilitate inbound and outbound tourism, promoting tourist flows and resource sharing.
Yu concluded by expressing hope to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism with Matta Sabah through regular exchanges, data sharing, and joint promotions, while encouraging greater participation from Hainan tourism enterprises to foster an open and mutually beneficial tourism ecosystem.
No comments:
Post a Comment