KUALA LUMPUR : Newly installed
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz is saying that
officers from his ministry helped rescue Sabah’s tourism industry following the
Sulu intrusion in Tanduo, Lahad Datu.
He said he was thankful to
have very dedicated officers who proved capable of saving the tourism industry
in Sabah from being affected by the intrusion by militants from southern
Philippines in February this year.
Nazri said the latest
statistics showed that there was no marked drop in the number of tourists visiting
Sabah, after his working visit to the JKKN office at the Bukit Perdana
government complex in Jalan Datuk Onn, here, Thursday.
He did not elaborate nor did
he say what role the federal ministry had played. At the time of the incident,
Datuk Ng Yen Yen was the tourism minister.
However, Tourism Malaysia,
which comes under the ministry, did launch several tour packages to the east coast
in particular, though how popular it has been with Malaysians is yet to be
known.
Nazri was in Sabah over the
Kaamatan weekend where he visited several tourism places including a homestay
in Papar and the famed Sunday Gaya Street Fair.
Nazri, in the BERNAMA report
also told reporters that he will be asking for an additional allocation of
RM300 million for the ministry as the RM358 million allocated by the government
for 2013 is insufficient.
He said additional funds are
required since the ministry has taken over the National Culture and Arts
Department (JKKN) from the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry
since May.
“The tourism industry is a
vital source of income for the country; every ringgit given is not money spent
but an investment for the country,” he said.
Nazri said he wanted the
allocation for the ministry to reach the target of RM700 million this year
although its budget for 2013 saw a 42 per cent increase.
As the new tourism minister,
he admitted that he still had much more to learn about the country’s tourism
industry.
Nazri added: “Many people
criticised me after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak appointed me as
the new tourism minister as I have been known as a fiery minister, so they
questioned how a fierce person like me could attract tourists.(BI)
SO MUCH POTENTIAL: Sabah should offer its rich heritage as part of a tour package, says Nazri
ReplyDeleteSABAH'S rich cultural heritage can be offered as a tourism package, said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday.
He said if the tourism sector offered culture as a part of its package, it had the potential to generate income for the country.
The merging of culture and tourism was like a perfect "marriage", he added.
Both sectors had contributed 5.8 per cent to the nation's gross domestic product and created 100,000 jobs in 2010.
"Therefore, it is crucial for Sabah people to preserve their arts and culture and showcase them to visitors and tourists.
ReplyDelete"The people should not let foreign cultures influence them. We should keep our local identity," he said during a visit to the Sabah National Arts and Culture Complex (JKKN) here.
Nazri hoped that JKKN staff would organise more activities to exceed this year's key performance indicator of 165 programmes.
They were told to beef up their efforts as most of the planned activities were delayed because of the Lahad Datu intrusion and the 13th General Election.
Present were director-general of JKKN Datuk Norliza Rofli, JKKN Sabah director Jasmi Rasit and state Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz taking part in a Sumazau dance at the Sabah National Arts and Culture Complex in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. With him is state Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi
The Tourism and Culture Ministry is prepared to boost air connectivity to Sabah and Sarawak as well as improve road accessibility to tourist areas there.
ReplyDelete"I will bring this matter to the cabinet. I am sure the cabinet knows the Tourism and Culture Ministry works to attract many tourists to the country," he said after his walkabout at the Gaya Street Sunday market, here, yesterday.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, said he would bring up the two issues to the cabinet.
"It has always been the minister from Sabah and Sarawak speaking out on this issue, but it seems parochial, like you are fighting for your own state.
"But I am a peninsula man and if I voice this out, it may not be parochial.
He said the ministry's demand for more air connectivity to Sabah and Sarawak would be seen as being legitimate and necessary.
Nazri, who was on his last day of visit to the state, also welcomed state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun's request to improve road accessibility, particularly to tourist attractions, in remote areas in Sabah.
ReplyDeleteHe said it was fortunate that Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof was from Sarawak and he understood the need for roads to remote areas in both states.
Nazri said he would seek the cooperation of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dalan to light up towns in Sabah.
He said finance was an area his ministry would give more attention to.
The tourism in sabah will surely boost up after this, giving more opportunity to the people to be involved in various field related to tourism
ReplyDeleteChief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman called on everyone to remain true to their respective cultures and traditions as well as to work well with each other in the interest of the nation.
ReplyDelete"Let us also continue to bridge gaps between Malaysians in the peninsula with us here in Sabah and neighbouring Sarawak," he said.
ReplyDelete"There has already been a lot of progress in nurturing understanding, and this must be enhanced on a continued basis."
ReplyDeleteAs a melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds, he said Malaysia has a lot to be proud of and that this diversity is what makes the country strong.
Towards this end, he called on everyone to continue respecting one another and ensure that unity is preserved as Malaysia's pillar of progress and growth.
ReplyDeleteMusa, who is also Finance Minister, said on a larger scale, everyone must work together to bring more progress for Sabah and Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteHe said there is positive development in several sectors of the economy, notably in oil and gas, palm oil and tourism, which are also listed in Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
In a globalised world, he said it is also pertinent for everyone to nurture innovation and creativity, especially among the young, in order to remain competitive.
ReplyDeleteThe young, he said, have much to offer to the nation, and the Government is committed in supporting school leavers to take up tertiary level courses by bringing higher education closer to the people.
On Federal Government-led initiatives such as the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) 2.0, he said, they are on track and are showing the desired results.
ReplyDeleteMusa said the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) and the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) are also progressing well with the overall aim of uplifting standards of living.
ReplyDeleteEmphasis on vital infrastructure, such as roads and schools, he said, is always on the agenda as the Government strives to bridge regional imbalances within Sabah.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah, he said, is a step by the Government after concerns were brought up by various quarters.
ReplyDelete"This shows our sincerity and it is my hope that we allow the RCI to finish its investigations before coming to our own conclusions," he said.
The Government is sincere and that all Malaysians in Sabah should disregard claims made by the opposition over the aid programmes and the range of projects that the Government plans for the people.
ReplyDeleteSabah merekodkan peningkatan 15 peratus jumlah pelancong dalam tempoh sembilan bulan pertama tahun ini kepada 1.9 juta orang berbanding 1.6 juta orang dalam tempoh yang sama tahun lalu.
ReplyDeleteJadi adalah penting untuk kita terus saling membantu dan berkomunikasi bagi mengetahui tanggungjawab kita untuk membangunkan industri pelancongan
ReplyDeletekeindahan alam semula jadi dan budaya masyarakat pelbagai kaum di negeri ini menjadi tarikan utama pelancong asing.
ReplyDeletekekayaan budaya Sabah boleh ditawarkan sebagai pakej pelancongan
ReplyDeletejika sektor pelancongan yang ditawarkan budaya sebagai sebahagian daripada pakej, ia mempunyai potensi menjana pendapatan untuk negara.
ReplyDeletePenggabungan budaya dan pelancongan adalah seperti "perkhawinan" yang sempurna
ReplyDeleteKedua-dua sektor ini telah menyumbang 5.8 peratus kepada keluaran kasar dalam negara dan mewujudkan 100,000 pekerjaan pada tahun 2010. Oleh itu, adalah penting bagi orang-orang Sabah untuk memelihara seni dan budaya mereka dan mempamerkannya kepada pengunjung dan pelancong
ReplyDeleteSabah Negeri Di Bawah Bayu, menjadi pilihan pertama negeri yang ingin dilawati Menteri Pelancongan yang baru dilantik, Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz, yang berikrar untuk mempromosi aspek pelancongannya seolah-olah ia negerinya sendiri.
ReplyDeleteBekas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu berkata dia mempunyai perancangan yang besar untuk Sabah.
ReplyDelete"Bagi saya, fikir pelancongan, (adalah) fikir Sabah kerana Negeri Sabah mempunyai semua yang pelancong mahukan
Dengan lebih 32 kumpulan sub-etnik, penduduk Sabah sudah tentu sangat peramah, katanya, dan ini diperkukuh oleh kenyataan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak bahawa Sabah sesungguhnya mengamalkan konsep 1Malaysia.
ReplyDelete"Anda ada Gunung Kinabalu, puncak tertinggi di Asia Tenggara dan juga Banjaran Crocker dan laut.
sambil menambah bahawa Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah (STB) begitu cemerlang untuk membawa pelancongan Sabah ke tempat di mana ia berada sekarang. Sementara masih ada ruang untuk peningkatan, Nazri berkata dengan pendapatan pelancongan besar yang dijana oleh Sabah, Kerajaan Persekutuan akan menggunakan peluang ini untuk mempromosi Sabah ke tahap lebih tinggi.
ReplyDeleteMenggambarkan dirinya sebagai "Menteri Persekutuan ketujuh bagi Sabah", beliau berhasrat untuk mempromosi negeri ini seperti negeri kelahirannya sendiri.
Nazri berkata Sabah dan Sarawak mempunyai potensi dalam pelancongan sukan, yang akan dipertingkat dengan peruntukan besar daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan akan disalurkan untuk menggalakkan pelancongan di negeri-negeri Malaysia Timur ini.
ReplyDelete"Ianya adil kerana Sabah dan Sarawak sangat besar, di mana Sarawak lebih besar berbanding Semenanjung sementara Sabah sama besar dengan semenanjung," katanya.
Nazri juga berkata bahawa beliau tidak melayan Sabah dan Sarawak sebagai salah sebuah negeri dalam negara ini.
ReplyDeleteMengenai pelancongan sukan, beliau berikrar untuk memberi lebih perhatian terhadap perkara itu khususnya di Sabah.
Dan untuk melakukan perkara itu, beliau berjanji untuk mendengar kepada STB, pengusaha-pengusaha pelancongan, pengusaha hotel dan pemain-pemain dalam industri ini.
alah satu produk pelancongan yang beliau nampak sebagai mempunyai potensi yang baik ialah Kudat yang mempunyai tempat menarik dipanggil Simpang Mengayau.
ReplyDeleteHakikat bahawa Simpang Mengayau terletak menghadap laut terbuka di mana sempadan maritim ydng memisahkan Laut China Selatan dan Laut Sulu boleh dipromosi untuk menarik pelancong serupa dengan tempat pelancongan lain di seluruh dunia, katanya.
Ada juga banyak perkara lain untuk dinikmati di Kudat dan ketika ini, kita hanya mempunyai persembahan orkestra (di Simpang Mengayau) sekali setahun untuk menarik pelancong.
ReplyDelete"Kami mahu mengeksploitasi alam sekitar, hutan dan laut... perkara-perkara yang pelancong ingin lihat,"
Nazri berkata kebanyakan pelancong tidak datang ke Sabah untuk melihat struktur konkrit bandar.
ReplyDeletePelawat-pelawat China, katanya, sangat menyukai laut, kerana itu mereka datang ke pantai-pantai apabila mereka datang ke Sabah.
Orang Eropah pula, katanya, lebih menyukai alam semula jadi.
Bagaimanapun, beliau menekankan bahawa program inap desa juga sama penting untuk industri pelancongan.
Mengenai kedatangan melalui udara ke Sabah, kami akan membangkitkan perkara itu dalam mesyuarat Kabinet Persekutuan dan bahawa dia yakin akan mendapat sokongan untuk menyelesaikannya.
ReplyDeleteMemandangkan 96 peratus kedatangan ke Sabah adalah melalui udara, katanya, permintaan untuk perkara itu sangat optimistik dan perlu.