Sabah tourism authorities are taking proactive steps to revitalize and expand route networks to attract more visitors to the Land Below the Wind. Spearheading these efforts is the newly appointed chief executive officer of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, who led the team at the Route Asia Forum 2024 in Langkawi.
During the three-day event that concluded on Thursday (Feb 29), STB engaged with key players in the aviation industry, including airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and other stakeholders. Among the airlines that STB interacted with were Scoot, AirAsia, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Vietjet, Jetstar, HK Express, and Air India.
Highlighting the significance of these engagements, STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai stressed the board’s commitment to collaborating with airlines that share its vision for growth. Bangkuai, who also serves as the state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister, emphasized the importance of aligning with airlines catering to Sabah’s target markets for tourism growth.
This strategic approach not only aims to expand Sabah’s reach in the tourism sector but also enhance its presence in key markets, Bangkuai noted. STB aims to position Sabah as a must-visit destination in the Asia Pacific region by leveraging partnerships forged through these proactive engagements.
Meanwhile, Jimit underscored STB’s focus on targeting emerging markets like India and Central Asia. He mentioned that collaborating with airlines at Route Asia 2024 enables STB to reach out to potential partners capable of serving Sabah’s diverse target markets effectively.
“Through these partnerships, STB seeks to optimize route networks and enhance connectivity to and within Sabah, ultimately improving the overall tourism experience for visitors,” Jimit explained.
