Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has been reappointed Sabah Tourism Board chairman by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew during a Sabah Tourism Appreciation Night on Thursday. This announcement ended speculation over his position in the state’s premier agency driving tourism.
Bangkuai, the Kiulu assemblyman, previously served as Assistant Tourism Minister and has been widely credited for pushing Sabah tourism through the board with a particular focus on developing the rural sector.
The appointment also includes a new chief executive officer, Julinus Jeffery Jimit, who replaces Noredah Othman. Noredah has been appointed as the CEO of the newly-formed Sabah Convention Bureau under the ministry and will take over the newly-created MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) unit.
Liew assured Sabah tourism players of her ministry’s commitment through STB to work together to facilitate growth, and reaffirmed its pledge to ensure that preservation, sustainability, and respect for Sabah’s land remain a high priority.
During her speech, she expressed confidence that the synergy between STB’s promotional efforts and tourism players’ professional services had enabled the state to hit its 2023 target of 2.2 million arrivals. She also anticipated a revenue of RM5.6bil from tourism and hoped for 2.8 million tourists this year.
Liew highlighted China, South Korea, and Brunei as the state’s top three post-pandemic markets, noting that Sabah saw 63 of the 87 flights from China reinstated following the pandemic. She also thanked South Korean airlines and agents for recovering very quickly with direct flights and a good load factor, and acknowledged Brunei’s contribution to the highest international arrivals last year, especially in November and December.
