CONGRESS PUTS SABAH ON GLOBAL MAP

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is an 'unpolished diamond' as far as China's giant tourism market is concerned. Hence, more events such as the recent Third Jiangmen Youth World Congress need to be hosted to generate greater awareness among the Chinese tourists.

Sabah United Tze Yip Association President Datuk Susan Wong, who was also the organising chairperson of the biennial congress, said the Chinese delegates from Jiangmen told her that with more promotions Sabah is becoming more popular as a tourist destination for tourists from China.

Susan admitted that at first she thought she was hosting just another congress but soon realised that it actually had the multiplying effect on other business sectors, particularly Sabah's tourism.

"The delegates said Kota Kinabalu, in particular, has lived up to its Nature Resort City status with the clean air, beautiful beaches and islands surrounded by crystal clear water. All of them want to come back again," she said.

About 1,000 delegates from all over the world including Europe, Canada and United States whose families originated from Jiangmen attended the three-day congress early this month.

"Most of them have never heard of Sabah and Kota Kinabalu until they came here. So the congress was like putting Sabah on a global map," she said when asked on the successes achieved through the congress.

Furthermore, Tourism, Environment and Culture Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun had said that Malaysia, particularly Sabah, is becoming popular among the Chinese tourists as their arrivals here had increased by 45 per cent to 59,385 during the first four months this year.

During the same period last year, tourist arrivals from China were only 40,798.

"I am glad to be able to help promote SabahÉI feel very honoured that I can contribute to Sabah," she said.

The congress at the Magellan Sutera was the first time that it was held outside of China's territory.

Since it was the first time that the event was not held in China, Susan said, so many special programmes were lined up such as the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding of Intent by three travel agents and six business companies from Sabah and China.

The MoU, she said, is expected to generate a total of RM30 million in income.

According to her, in pursuant to the memorandum of friendly exchange between the Jiangmen Municipality and Kota KInabalu City, she would be going to Jiangmen next week to get the official invitation letter for Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir to visit there.

"The delegates were also impressed and touched by the statement of our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman during the opening ceremony in his speech read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai.

"Our Chief Minister said youths are our hope and our future leaders.

The delegates are touched by the statement," she said.

At the end of the congress, Susan did Sabah proud when she became the first recipient of the top award for the Jiangmen World Youth congress.

Also receiving the award was another Sabahan, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk V K Liew.

"To sum up, I am happy that the Third World Jiangmen Youth Congress had produced excellent result not only for the delegates but also Sabah, Malaysia," she said.

The fourth World Jiangmen Youth Congress would be in 2015 to be hosted by Hong Kong. (DE)