KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Regional Manager (Sabah and Brunei), George Skadiang said MAS is receiving encouraging response from the public in all its ongoing Golden Holidays tour packages.

He said the Golden Holidays package is a variety of travel packages and optional tours for both Malaysians and foreign visitors to explore the wonders of the country at reasonable costs.

"From modern city centres and charming heritage towns to idyllic country settings and adventurous terrain, your journey of discovery also gives you a great value for money," he said.

Speaking to the New Sabah Times during the recently concluded "Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Ke Sabah" in Kuala Lumpur, George said MAS has prepared and are selling some 10 tour packages for Sabah alone under the Golden Holidays campaign.

The Sabah tour packages are the three days-two nights tour in Kota Kinabalu, four days tour to KK/Kinabalu Park, and three days tour to Labuan.

Others include four days tour to Sandakan Adventure, four days tour to Mount Kinabalu, five days tour to Diving Off Sipadan Island, and nine days tour to Experience Borneo Adventure.

The optional tours include Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs tour, Kudat Rungus Longhouse Experience tour and the Locomotive Experience.

Elaborating briefly on one of the tour package such as the four days Kota Kinabalu/Kinabalu Park, the Regional Manager said the tour begins with the departure to Kota Kinabalu on Malaysia Airlines and upon arrival, visitors will be met and transferred to their hotel.

Day Two: Kota Kinabalu/Kinabalu Park – after breakfast, visitors will take a two-hour drive to Kinabalu Park, passing through the Crocker Range and its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. At the Park, visitors can enjoy the flora and fauna of the jungle walks or visit the Exhibition Centre and Mountain Garden to learn more about these natural wonders. (Breakfast and lunch are provided.)

Day Three: After breakfast, proceed on a half day City tour of the City centre to various places of interest – the Tun Mustapha Tower, To Tze Temple, and Sabah State Mosque. Then visitors will visit the Sabah Museum for brief look at the historical and cultural background of the region. Later, visitors travel to Signal Hill for a bird’s eye view of the City’s commercial centre and the offshore islands of the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. (Breakfast is provided).

Day Four: Kota Kinabalu/Home: The day is at visitors’ leisure until transfer to the airport for flight home. (Breakfast is provided).

To a question, George said MAS will continue to aggressively promote the Golden Holidays packages which have been proven the right step towards helping the Sabah Government boosts its tourism industry as well as that of the entire country.

He said with the proposed Budget 2002, MAS is confident more visitors from Peninsular Malaysia will come to Sabah and vice versa, which will in the long run further help national integration.