KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is gearing up to welcome over 800 Indian leisure golfers starting next month.
The arrival of the golfers were in response to an inspection made by the Indian golfing experts to Sabah in May this year.
Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said that the turnout is expected to be even larger because these golf enthusiasts will be accompanied by their families.
"We are on the brink of yet another exciting chapter in Sabah's tourism journey, as we are also expecting a group of Indian leisure golfers to hold a tournament in Sabah next year.
"This prospect has received strong validation from our esteemed partners at Tourism Malaysia," he stated.
He said this after a meeting with Anil Dev, a representative of Golf Plus India, which is coordinating the Indian golfers' trip to Sabah.
Meanwhile, India's leading golf media platform, 4moles.com, is targeting 600 leisure and group players.
It is also scheduled to host the finals of 'Golf Rendezvous 2024 India' in Sabah in March 2024, with the participation of 60 golfers, supporters, and families.
Joniston was in Delhi to lead the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) team at the three-day Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart.
Tourism Malaysia's deputy director-general (promotion) Datuk Musa Yusof and representatives from India's tourism industry were in attendance.
Also part of the delegation were STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman, deputy-cum-chief financial officer Julinus Jimit, and senior marketing manager Humphrey Ginibun.