KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chapter signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong personality Hugo Wong, appointing him as its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategic partner.
The collaboration supports the national Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign and Sabah’s preparations for Visit Sabah 2027 by promoting responsible tourism practices, strengthening Community-Based Tourism (CoBT), enhancing rural and cultural tourism visibility, and advancing industry-driven CSR initiatives.
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Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who witnessed the signing ceremony on Thursday, welcomed the initiative and said tourism should be privately driven with the government providing supportive and enabling roles.
He said initiatives led by industry associations help strengthen the tourism ecosystem while aligning with broader state and national aspirations, particularly as Sabah moves closer to Visit Sabah 2027 with greater emphasis on rural destinations and grassroots tourism operators.
Wong’s first assignment under the partnership will be participation in the Tenom and Keningau CoBT programme from March 6 to 8, which includes engagement sessions with local tourism operators and visits to several tourism and agricultural attractions in both districts.
