RM10 MILLION REVENUE FOR SALE CAMPAIGNS

LAUNCHING ....Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin (fourth from right) having a group photo after the launching of the State-level 1Malaysia Year-End Sale 2012.

By : FIZAH YUSOF

TOURISTS often do a fair amount of shopping when they visit a place. In fact the retail business catering to tourists is an important part of the tourism industry. Datuk Seri Panglima Tengku Zainal Adlin, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board said this at the Launching of the State-level 1Malaysia Year-end Sale 2012 here at Lintasan Deasoka, Gaya Street, Sunday.

“Shopping-related spending made up the second biggest share of tourist expenditure that contributed RM17.5 billion to the country’s economy last year, an increase of 1.3 per cent,” he said.

Tengku Zainal said this year Sabah targets RM 10 million in revenue from four major shopping malls that took part in the annual sale campaigns. They were the 1Borneo Hypermall, Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, Karamunsing Complex and Centre Point Sabah.

He explained that the target was based on revenues earned from the three major annual sale campaigns which were the Grand Prix Sale in March, the Mega Sale in August and the current 1Malaysia Year-End Sale from 10 Nov 2012 to 1 Jan 2013.

"Last year, we made RM6 million based on these sales at the four shopping complexes. So, this year, we aim to earn more," he said.

He said Sabah now is tapping into a bigger market by offering a wide selection of retail options to go with its bountiful natural wealth.

“70 per cent of Sabah's shoppers were locals and domestic tourists, while the majority of foreign visitors came for eco-tourism,” he said.

He also stated that as of August this year, Sabah recorded 629, 025 international tourist arrivals as compared with only 124, 482 domestic arrivals. (Insight Sabah)