Borneo Escapade Tours Managing Partners Malvin Marcus and Patricia Kitingan from Sabah meeting up with Christine Volpert (photo), a tour and travel agent from Germany who expressed her desire to have long-term collaboration with the company at the just-concluded ITB Berlin 2024.
“Volpert wants to expand her current market (Sumatera, Indonesia) to Borneo.
“Indonesia and Borneo have similarities in terms of cultures and traditions. Therefore, she is interested in our community-based tourism (CoBT) which combines sightseeing and socioeconomic contributions through active participation in community projects,” said Marcus who aggressively promoting rural tourism and CoBT at the world’s largest travel trade show.
Meanwhile, Sandakan-based Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure (STWA) Director Johnny Lim said he had fruitful discussions with European tour and travel agents who are keen to bring holidaymakers to Sabah.
“For instance, Denmark tour and travel agents are seeking collaboration with their Sabah counterparts to bring their guests for wildlife and birdwatching activities,” he said.
He added that they (agents) are attracted to the 5day-4night Absolute Wildlife Tour that will take tourists to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Turtle Island, Gomantong Cave and Kinabatangan River Cruise.
According to Lim, agents from Spain are planning to come to Sabah in September this year for a familiarisation (FAM) trip. “They are looking to discover new destinations in Borneo.”
Photo shows Danish tour and travel agent Williams Reiser and his wife with STWA Senior Sales Manager Jessie Chin.
