CHINESE visitors helped boost Sabah’s tourist numbers in the first half of 2017, with the state registering a 3% increase in number compared with the same period last year.

“Hotels are also enjoying around 85% to 95% occupancy rates, at present, showing Sabah is on the track to become one of the world’s preferred tourism destinations,” state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said at the launch of the first Sabah rural tourism roadshow today.

He said Sabah expects to achieve another good year in tourist numbers, supported by the strong arrivals from China.

“Now we are expecting an additional 29 scheduled flights from China per week, on top of the 79 a week from the republic,” he said.

Sabah tourism industry hit its best year in 2016, recording 3.43 million arrivals and generated around RM7.25 billion for the local economy. 

Earlier, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman said numerous efforts were done to boost tourism infrastructure in rural areas, saying interior folk should also benefit from the boom, which is presently focused on Kota Kinabalu. –  August 4, 2017.