MALAYSIA Airlines Bhd and Sabah Tourism Board have inked an agreement to raise Sabah’s profile in the United Kingdom next year.

The agreement will involve a series of trade and consumer activities, as well as a campaign via the Malaysia Airlines UK/EU online portals, luxury tour operator Kuoni and other trade partners including key tour operator partners in the launch of the A350 route.

The agreement was signed by Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun and Malaysia Airlines UK, Ireland, Europe and North America regional manager Adrian Keating at the ongoing World Travel Market London at ExCel London.

“This partnership will help to create even greater opportunities to increase the growing number of tourists and business travellers from the UK and Ireland flying to Sabah,” Masidi said.

Sabah recorded a 7% increase of visitors or 35,901 from the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America last year.

According to the Sabah Tourism Department, international arrivals increased by 1.1 million visitors, or 15.4% last year compared to 2015.

Malaysia Airlines also recorded a 57% growth in visitors to Kota Kinabalu between January and September this year.

Also present were Sabah Tourism Board deputy general manager Suzaini Sabdin Ghani, and assistant marketing manager Daniel Roman.

The Sabah Tourism Board delegation, led by Masidi, was also attended by Borneo Nature Tours, Borneo Adventures, Shangri La Rasa Ria, Rustic borneo, and Borneo Sandakan Tours.

The World Travel Market London is a leading global event for the travel industry, generating more than £2.8 billion (RM16 billion) of business contracts between attendees. – November 7, 2017.