KOTA KINABALU, Feb 12 — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) conference, being held here and attended by 300 participants including from Eastern Europe, has enabled tourism attractions in Sabah to be promoted to these countries.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Musa Yusof said the three-day conference began today with participants from 11 countries not only from Asia but also Eastern Europe including Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
“Through the PATA conference, we hope to promote and offer our travel packages to our friends from abroad (industry players),” he told reporters after accompanying Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry secretary -general Datuk Dr Noor Zari Hamat who was visiting the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to have a look at the tourism situation here.
Musa said the conference, which would be officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, had also invited 36 media practitioners from countries in Eastern Europe.
“The 36 journalists will not only cover the conference but will also take a tour of the state’s tourism destinations, helping to declare that Malaysia was a safe place to visit,” he said.
He said the PATA conference is held annually with Asian countries taking turns to play host and this year Malaysia won the bid and selected Sabah as the host. – Feb 12, 2020, Bernama
