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MESSAGE BY SABAH TOURISM
CHAIRMAN
THE CHAIRMAN OF SABAH TOURISM
YM TENGKU DATUK (DR) ZAINAL ADLIN
On behalf of SABAH
TOURISM I extend our ‘Selamat Datang’, a very warm welcome to Sabah,
Malaysian Borneo to all our fellow participants to the Asia Pacific
Ecotourism Conference (APECO) 2002.
It is indeed a rare privilege and great honour to be given this golden
opportunity to organize and host an Asia Pacific Conference on
ecotourism in 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism designated by
the United Nations, for which a big THANK YOU and our deep appreciation
to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia, and the Ministry
of Tourism, Environment, Science & Technology Sabah. The tourism
industry cannot function and flourish without the active and positive
involvement of all its key players. The strong support from MATTA and
its travel and tour agents, the hoteliers and resort operators, the
carriers and other transportation operators, relevant government
agencies particularly the frontliners etc., for the success of APECO
2002 is most heartening as the key players in our tourism industry have
come together to work hand in hand in the spirit of Malaysia Boleh,
Sabah Boleh. This augurs well for the future of sustainable tourism
development. I also would like to extend a special ‘Youkoso Sabah E’ and
‘Domo Arigato Gozaimas” to the big delegation from Japan Ecotourism
Society. The contribution by the Asian Productivity Organisation and the
National Productivity Council to APECO 2002 is deeply appreciated.
Sabah is an emerging, exotic and exciting destination with huge
potential for growth. The tourism industry is poised to be the mainstay
of the State’s economy in the near future. The Land Below the Wind is
blessed with an immensely diverse eco-culture whose essence is the
romanticism, mysticism and legend of Borneo. Sabah, geographically in
the centre of Southeast Asia, is a land of eco-treasures from mountain
high to ocean deep and is being promoted
Sabah Nature’ally A Premier Nature Adventure Holiday Destination
Sabah presents an alluring potpourri of cultural exotica and natural
beauty in a safe and supportive environment among warm, friendly and
hospitable people of a delightful mix of over 30 ethnic communities. The
State is filled with natural wonders from the magnificent Mount
Kinabalu, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, a botanical paradise and
the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, to Sipadan, Malaysia’s only
oceanic island in the Sulu-Suluwesi Sea with the richest marine
enviroment on Earth that is teeming with marine life. Sipadan is
internationally recognized as a world’s top dive destination. The
Kinabatangan is a ‘Gift To The Earth’ with the worlds richest
concentration of wild life.’ The Danum Valley, one of the world’s oldest
and richest primeval rain forests is being complimented by the pristine
Maliau Basin, “Sabah’s Lost World’, a last frontier.
Many places of interests are easily accessible, mostly at your doorstep
complimented by good tourism infrastructure, and good value for money.
World class resorts with meetings, incentives, conferences and event
facilities, and affordable accommodation including homestays are
available. The many championship signature golf courses and recreational
leisure facilities can cater for specific needs of all for an enhanced
experience and enjoyable holiday in Sabah.
APECO 2002 creates an opportunity for strategy networking and the
outcome of the conference should give us a clearer road map and
direction towards sustainable ecotourism development that should bring
lasting benefits to the local people, the industry and the government.
Ecotourism and conservation are interdependent. There cannot be
sustainable tourism development without the conservation of our rich
cultural and natural heritage. Therefore, we have to learn to chart our
course by the stars, not by the lights of five star hotels, night golf
courses or passing cruise ships. The future lies in our hands.
I wish you a pleasant experience of our Land Below The Wind and a
successful conference.
Tengku Datuk (Dr) Zainal Adlin
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