Malaysia is definitely the go-to destination for many tourists who are looking to explore our country’s natural beauty while experiencing a melting pot of cultures and traditions at the same time. Recently, East Malaysia, particularly Sabah, has become more popular due to a multitude of reasons.
According to the South China Morning Post, the state of Sabah was recently listed among the top 10 tourist destinations for 6.5 million Chinese nationals during this year’s festive season.
The state’s tourism minister, Masidi Manjun also stated that Sabah was indeed getting more popular among Chinese tourists, stating that more “cosmopolitan types” have been visiting the state.
Source: NST
“They speak some basic English, they are younger, and they know exactly what they want from the holiday so they just travel on their own without tour groups.”
He added that Sabah was likely to gain more tourists during China’s 15-day Spring Festival more than other states in the country, saying,
“I like to say we are unique because we are ‘the best Malaysians’. We don’t have any problem with racial harmony, and a lot of the non-Chinese here speak Chinese.”
“This gives a lot of confidence to the Chinese tourists because they feel they are at home… we speak the language but we don’t have the crowds or traffic jams and we have the cleanest air in Malaysia.”
Source: SCMP
“Our beautiful scenery and islands make it perfect for their favourite activity: taking selfies.”
Adding to that, the daily also quoted a tourism consultant, Gary Bowerman, who mentioned that there has been a steady increase in Chinese tourists since 2013. He cited increasing air connectivity as one of the critical factors driving these tourists to Sabah, as 86 out of 186 international flights into Sabah are from China.
Well, it’s great to know that Sabah’s getting more popular. Guess it’s time to plan our next visit to KK!
Also read: Tourism Tax Not Implemented Yet But 3,000 Chinese Tourists Already Cancelling Trip
