KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Hotels here are still registering high occupancy rates of up to 80 per cent, thanks to an influx of domestic tourists.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said some hotels and resorts were fully booked for December, which was a sign that the tourism industry was recovering.

"Domestic tourism in the state has recorded a 5.1 per cent increase in the first six months of the year.

"Its encouraging to note that we are still doing well overall despite the economic turmoil and the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic that is affecting the world.

"Comparatively, we have only suffered a marginal 1.9 per cent reduction in international tourist arrivals compared with the same period last year."

Masidi said this after launching the state's Malay-sian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Fair at the 1Borneo Hypermall here yesterday.

"I am pleased to know that 35 per cent of this fair consists of booths that are promoting domestic tourism. This is in line with the government focus on promoting more domestic travel to boost the industry.

"I don't see the H1N1 as being a travel deterrent as long as we adopt clean hygiene practices and stay away from high-risk situations."

--New Straits Times