Rainforests, wildlife Sabah's star attraction

Rainforests, wildlife Sabah's star attraction

SANDAKAN (NST) - Sabah's rainforests and wildlife are attractions that can help to boost the tourism industry and increase revenue.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the state's natural tourism products, especially the eco-tourism sites here and on the lower Kinabatangan floodplain, were attracting tourists from all over the world.

Azalina, who spent the weekend visiting eco-tourism sites in this east coast town and Kinabatangan, said tourism players in Sabah were fortunate, compared to their colleagues in states which do not have so many natural products. She said wildlife such as orangutan, proboscis monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants and exotic birds have turned this east coast town into an eco-tourism destination of choice for travellers from as far away as the United Kingdom.

However, Azalina said, without creative promotion by tourism players, these natural attractions would not be explored by tourists and would not guarantee that more tourists would come here in the future.

"It is not about having the best roads or airports. Your success in tourism will come from nature and will depend on you (tourism players). You are very fortunate," she said.