Saturday, October 22, 2011

Sabah Travel Fair in Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam recorded top place in terms of international visitor arrivals to Sabah last year with an overall count of 109,141 visitors, averaging 299 visitors per day, and is well positioned to set a new record this year if the current rate continues.

As of the first eight months in 2011, 63,165 new and returning Bruneian visitors made up a huge portion of international travellers, indicating an 11.2 per cent jump compared to the same period in 2010.

The rapid growth of travellers could escalate in the near future given that Sabah will continue to enhance the image and outlook of tourism in the country with new hotel launches, travel packages, new products, exciting destinations not limited to Kota Kinabalu but encompassing other areas such as Sandakan and Tawau.

Sabah has long been admired as a popular holiday destination for independent travelers, most commonly in Kota Kinabalu. "Basically, the main purpose of the exhibition is to update on new products and new packages including promoting hoteliers and other management and services and evidence also suggests that the increasing number of visitors comes from independent travellers. This makes it easier to directly reach out to our target consumers," Zarinah Hj Amiludin, Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board told the Bulletin in an interview during the first day of the 5th Sabah Travel Fair at the Mall yesterday.

Novotel, an internationally-recognised hotel brand with countless number of hotels in the United Kingdom is offering a promotional rate of B$80, which translates to RM192.

With reference to the current exchange rate, that amount equates to 39 pounds sterling, which is far cheaper than any hotel in Central England and more than half the price off in most of the hotels in the Central London District.

A representative confirmed that this promotional rate will only last for three days and will end on Sunday when the fair ends.

"Hoteliers and tour operators will offer special packages to Bruneians especially targeting customers during the school holidays," Zarinah said, outlining the purposes of the main fair in addition to updating the new launches of hotels in Sabah.

Sabah is also a popular destination for meetings and cultural performances could also be arranged to entertain delegation members upon request, said Zarinah.

She said that main attractions will not only be based in Kota Kinabalu and encouraged groups of independent travellers and families 'to experience and explore nature' in nearby places and discover Sabah as a whole.

Customers started to flock the Sabah Travel Fair, which began yesterday and will be launched today, to inquire on the availability of accommodation as the end-of-year school holidays are coming by.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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