KOTA KINABALU: An orang utan inside an artificial mini jungle, is one of the many attractions which the people in Peninsula Malaysia would get to experience during a two-day "Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Ke Sabah" celebration scheduled to be held at the Mid Valley Mega Mall in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

Jointly organised by the Sabah Tourism, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Tourist Association, Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia, the event will be launched by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Panglima Bernard Dompok.

"The event which is a one-stop tourism fair, will also give opportunities to visitors particularly the daring ones to experience for themselves actual rock climbing and underwater diving, courtesy of Outward Bound School and Borneo Divers respectively," Sabah Tourism chairman Tengku Datuk Dr Zainal Adlin said.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he said a blowpipe competition and a special fashion showcase featuring international designs with ethnic Borneo influence will also be organised to make the event a real fun affair.

In addition, he said lucky draws and a treasure hunt would also be included in the two-day programme which will start daily from 10am to 10pm.

"There are more than 40 prizes to be won – return air tickets, room nights in 5-star hotels and resorts, island cruises, diving and wildlife tour packages," he said.

According to Tengku Adlin, the fair is aimed primarily at promoting Sabah "Natureally" within the domestic market and also targeting at the expatriate community in the Klang Valley.

Travelling within the country, he said, would also increase social and cultural integration and understanding between the states.

"This particularly unique and big tourism promotion for Sabah will be participated by some 40 organisations comprising tour operators, hotels and resorts operators, NGOs and the two national airlines," he said.

He said MAS, as one of the main partners, has given special airfare discounts for the tourism industry participating at the fair together with Golden Holidays.

On the other hand, he said Air Asia as the second national airline, has also confirmed participation since Sabah is one of their busiest sectors.

During the two-day fair, Tengku Adlin said an attractive and good-value-for-money package will be on offer to cater for the different interests and needs of domestic tourists.

To add to the activity, he said there will also be talks, slide shows and video shows featuring subjects like Mt Kinabalu, Danum Valley, scuba diving and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park among others.

"While we are there, Sabah tourism industry players will also promote the state as an ideal venue for meetings, incentive groups, conference and events for corporate companies in Klang Valley," he said adding that in August, Sabah hosted 16 mega corporate companies for an incentive trip.

He said the fair would also serve as a follow up on the recently concluded incentive trip to Sabah.

"Places like OBS offers corporate companies a chance to try out team-building exercises in rugged Borneo," he said.

He added that special invitations to the event are being extended to the diplomatic corp, corporate leaders, expatriate community associations, NGOs and government agencies among others.

Replying to a question, Tengku Zainal Adlin said the artificial mini jungle, "diving spot" and rock climbing activities will be built in the open area at the Mid Valley Mega Mall.

"The rationale behind in erecting these articial facilities inside the mall is to let counterparts in peninsula Malaysia feel for themselves what Sabah has to offer to them," he said.

He said the organisers of the event is bringing some of the Sabah tourism products right to the doorsteps of people in West Malaysia as a strategy to lure them to visit the Land Below The Wind.