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| Picure Taken from MADE IN SABAH |
A gentle reminder was made by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun: nudging all Sabahan entrepreneurs to increase their product competitiveness in the global market. This call was made to add value to their products with better packaging and quality control.
Masidi made his conclusion on the matter based on feedback from tourists. Masidi noted that in spite of the fact that Sabahan products have quality, but at the same time lack in attractive packaging and marketing efforts.
In his own words, Masidi noted that 'they (foreign tourists) want a Sabahan product that is original and authentic with packaging that is attractive and prestigious that can be brought back by them' .
The main reason for this short coming was due to the fact that local businesses are not focus on packaging due to a lack of experience. having expressed this, Masidi in an optimistic tone said that there are government agencies that could assist small entrepreneurs to address this issue.
Marsidi too said that once this matter will be resolve, there will be no problem in marketing our locally produced products to foreign tourists.
Seeing the potential, Masidi said Sabahans need to look at what they could offer to tourists in terms of shopping.
Duty Free Shop (DFS) Bundusan
While officiating at the grand opening of the Duty Free Shop (DFS) Borneo in Bundusan, Masidi made emphasis that proper packaging local Sabahan products is deemed necessary in order to make them look attractive and prestigious enough to be bought as souvenirs for friends back in their home country of origin.
He also congratulated DFS Borneo for investing in Sabah, adding that Sabah needed more new investors as the State was new to the tourism industry.
Directors of DFS Borneo, Raymond Tam and Jenny Wu, flew in specially from Hong Kong to attend the opening ceremony on Sunday (24 February 2013).
Also present were Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin, STB general manager Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks, Sagajuta Sabah Group Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Tan Tiang Lai and DFS Borneo managing director Susana Zang.
What is the government's role in Tourism
Contrary to populat belief, Masidi explained that the tourism industry was a private sector area and initiative, while the government only played a facilitating role such as providing basic infrastructures. He noted that it is the investors are the real people who make things happen in Sabah.
Hence, it is inaccurate when people ask when the government would build a hotel in a particular area because the government only facilitates, for example, providing basic infrastructures such as road system.
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| “It is my personal view that the government should not, as far as possible, compete with the private sector in business. The government is not noted for its efficiency in business, we leave that to the private sector.”Datuk Masidi Manjun |
Masidi also said Sabahans need to explore for opportunities to offer to tourists who shop here in view of the increased spending by Chinese tourists in the tourism sector.
Facts on Sabah's Tourism Industry
- Masidi reported that last year’s gross tourist arrivals totaled up to 2.875 million, taking in an estimated RM5.178 billion in tourism receipts for Sabah.
- North Asia markets such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan continued to be the main contributors to visitor arrivals into the State with a 36.6 per cent share of the total 941,765 international arrivals in 2012.
- Hong Kong, China and Taiwan tourist arrivals have increased by 44.3 per cent last year, this is a very significant increase. It shows greater interests from China towards Sabah.
- China was one of the top spenders in international tourism after Germany and the United States, spending almost USD55 billion in tourism alone in the year 2011.
- According to Euromonitor market Intelligence Report, a Chinese outbound traveler spends about 32 per cent on shopping when travelling abroad.
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