Wellness tourism: Sabah has what it takes
Published on: Saturday, June 08, 2024
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Liew launching the event while Cleopathra and others look on.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has what it takes to be a wellness tourism destination, said Sabah Minister Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew.
She said this in her officiating speech for the Wholistic Wellness Conference and Expo 2024 (IWWCE2024) hosted for the first time in Sabah at SICC, here, on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Our abundant negatively ionised fresh air and oxygen-rich environment are inherently healing for the body and mind.
“Sabah’s unspoiled nature presents high-demand tourism products in one living location, making it an ideal destination for wellness tourism.
“Given our medical infrastructure with modern facilities and healthcare services, our state government is committed to promoting Sabah as a premier wholistic wellness and medical tourism or health tourism destination for Asia and the global community.
“We, therefore, invite local and global wellness tourism entrepreneurs and companies to explore investment opportunities in the blossoming wellness tourism industry in Sabah,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Christina said the post-Covid initiative themed “Sustainable Wholistic Wellness Lifestyle for 21st Century” is both timely and essential as it strategically aligns with the State Government’s commitment to promoting health, medical and wellness tourism in Sabah to the global community.
“I am particularly pleased to learn that IWWCE2024 is the first international event to fully embrace the Sustainable Wholistic Wellness Lifestyle by covering all the 10 pillars of human health and wellness, namely Soul, Mental/Emotion, Body, Auric/Frequencies, Air, Water, Food/Nutrition, People/Relationship, Home/Workplace, and Environment,” she added.
ADVERTISEMENT
This event encompasses a comprehensive approach with prominent wellness speakers from various countries offering a valuable opportunity for Sabahans especially to gain insights into the diverse aspects of wholistic health and wellness.
Also present was Chief Executive Officer of AEI Wellness Sdn Bhd and QiMag Wholistic Professional Pit, Cleopathra Lawajai, who is the Organising Chairperson.
A seven-day Wholistic Nature Immersion Retreat is planned at the conclusion of the conference.
The retreat aims to awaken and enhance participants’ senses through Sabah’s pristine nature and iconic landscapes.
Christina believes it is the world’s first wellness immersion experiential tourism event of this kind.
“We commend the organisers and theme leaders for this innovative approach and recommend that such a unique retreat becomes a regular feature in Sabah’s tourism offerings,” she added.
Talking to the media, she said new medical related treatments have popped up all over the world and is no longer considered uncommon.
“We hope such events become an annual thing so the community can learn keep up with our body.
“The Sabah government fully supports the program and had several meetings with the organiser, since last year.
“It’s good that Sabah is now opening its doors to invite international delegates to events like this. We can expand our horizon not only in a certain area but form a balanced tourism fascination.
“Establishing a holistic wellness centre in Sabah is a good idea. We need to have an anchor to experience it instead of just hosting conventions,” she said.
Meanwhile, she added that India, Vietnam and London are the next prospects for direct flights into Sabah in addition to the two confirmed direct flights from China to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau this month.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
.jpg)
.jpg)
