GOVT URGED TO MAKE SABAH TOURISM, FLIGHT TRANSIT HUB TO BOOST STATE ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The government has been urged to make Sabah a tourism and transit hub for East Asian flights, particularly carrying Chinese tourists, to boost the state economy.

Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (BN-Libaran), when debating the Supply Bill 2025 at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat today, said this is because Sabah has seen a relatively high number of Chinese tourist arrivals this year.

"According to estimates quoted in mainstream media, approximately 1.4 million Chinese tourists have visited the country as of July, and of that number, 270,000 are estimated to have travelled to Sabah.

bootstrap slideshow

"I propose that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) makes Sabah the tourism hub for Chinese visitors to Malaysia. I believe this is because flight tickets, for example from Guangzhou, Taipei, and Macau to Sabah, are cheaper compared to those to Kuala Lumpur, and the flight duration is also shorter," he said.

He added that to achieve this, MOT should increase the number of flights to Sabah, particularly for East Asian airlines.

He said this flight transit hub aligns with the Freedom of the Air outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

bootstrap slideshow

"If Sabah is established as an East Asian flight hub, it will invigorate Sabah's economy and create new jobs for the locals. This, in turn, will help the MADANI government's efforts to reduce unemployment and eradicate poverty in Sabah," he said.

Meanwhile, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda (KDM-Kota Marudu) urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to promote and develop tourist destinations in Sabah's rural areas in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026, given that Sabah is the second state in Malaysia to receive the highest number of tourist arrivals.

In making his point, he cited Kota Marudu, which is part of the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, adding that it boasts beautiful beaches, rivers, mountains, mangroves, preserved wildlife, and cultural diversity.

"However, the tourism infrastructure in Kota Marudu, particularly basic facilities such as roads, water supply, and public amenities, needs significant attention," he added.

-- BERNAMA