Sabah could reap big tourism, trade benefits from Indian consulate, says chamber advisor

KOTA KINABALU (Feb 19): Establishing an Indian consulate in Sabah would significantly enhance tourism, trade and bilateral relations between the state and India, said Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry advisor Datuk Abdul Kadir M.E. Sikkandar.

He noted that Sabah stands to benefit greatly from the rapidly growing number of Indian tourists travelling abroad, citing popular destinations already capitalising on this market.

“I recently returned from Bangkok, and everywhere we went, from safari parks to tourist attractions, the places were filled with Indian tourists.

“In one dolphin show alone, about 9,000 out of 10,000 attendees were Indians,” Abdul Kadir told reporters at BTC Bistro Inanam near here.

He added that destinations such as Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai, despite being relatively expensive, continue to attract large numbers of Indian visitors.

“Indian tourists are not low-spending travellers. Singapore is costly, yet it is full of Indian tourists. But when I tell them about Sabah, many ask: ‘Where is Sabah?’

“They know Langkawi, but Sabah is still largely unknown to them,” he said.

Abdul Kadir emphasised that Sabah offers natural attractions far superior to many man-made destinations.

“Singapore’s attractions are mostly man-made, including indoor gardens and artificial jungles. Sabah offers real rainforests, islands, mountains and wildlife.

“When I show them photos of our beaches and Mount Kinabalu, they are genuinely surprised,” he said, noting that Sabah provides world-class experiences at a fraction of the cost compared to other regional destinations.

“If we can attract even 0.1 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion population, it would already make a tremendous impact on Sabah’s tourism industry,” he added.

Beyond tourism, he highlighted the trade potential between Sabah and India.

“Sabah already exports palm oil to India. There is potential to export many other products as well.

“India is a huge market, and stronger diplomatic representation through a consulate would make it easier for our traders to connect with Indian businesses,” he said.

He added that a consulate would also assist the Indian community in Sabah with passport renewals and other consular services, reducing the need to travel to Peninsular Malaysia.

“It would make things more convenient for Indian nationals working here and for companies employing Indian staff,” he said.

Abdul Kadir also pointed to potential investment from India, noting that Indian investors are actively investing billions of dollars in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia.

“We should position Sabah as a destination not only for tourists but also for investors. There is strong purchasing power in India, and many Indian families are capable of organising destination weddings and large-scale events abroad,” he said.

He cited instances where Indian families had booked entire hotels in Sabah for destination weddings, demonstrating their high spending power.

“If we improve promotion, enhance connectivity, and explore direct flights, for example to Chennai or Mumbai, we can significantly increase tourist arrivals,” he said.

He noted that countries such as Thailand and Singapore actively promote themselves in India through strong marketing campaigns.

“We need better promotion. Many Indians simply do not know about Sabah’s attractions — our islands in Semporna, Mount Kinabalu, orangutans and pristine beaches. Once they see what we have, they are impressed,” he said.

Abdul Kadir dismissed concerns raised in some quarters about establishing an Indian consulate, describing such views as short-sighted.

“More consulates mean stronger diplomatic ties, better trade relations and increased tourism. It is a positive development for Sabah in the long term,” he said.

He reiterated that even a small percentage of India’s outbound travellers choosing Sabah would generate substantial economic returns.

“We have the natural beauty, the hospitality and the products. What we need now is stronger promotion, better connectivity and institutional support. The potential is enormous,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced plans to establish a Consulate in Kota Kinabalu during his official visit to Malaysia.