With untapped beaches and other tourist attraction spots, Pitas is set to be Sabah's new tourism growth centre.

State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said there would be a focus given to the district for the implementation of tourism infrastructure.

"I will call Pitas Assemblyman Datuk Bolkiah Ismail, and Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah, who is the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Pitas chairman, for a discussion soon on how we can turn Pitas to be Sabah's northern region new tourism growth area" he said at the Chinese New Year 1 Malaysia Fiesta Pitas Level, on Saturday night, 17 February.

He said his ministry would play its role in ensuring the tourism development in the district especially at Kg Solimpodon Laut would take place.

"Sabah is moving in tandem with national development in the area of tourism due to its attraction and the people's friendliness as well as the leadership unity" he said.

Masidi disclosed some 3.7 million tourist arrivals were recorded last year, contributing to tourism receipts amounting to almost RM7.8 billion.

"With the increase in tourist arrivals, the number of hotel also increased but still could not cope with the demand which led to the emergence of the rural tourism sector through the development of homestays and hotels" he said.

He said the state's booming tourism industry has turned Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) into the second busiest airport in the country after KL International Airport (KLIA).

"We recorded at least 184 international flights landing at KKIA every week, 410 domestic flights and we have 86 direct flights from China, which is more than the figure recorded in KLIA" Masidi said.

He said the part of the Pan-Borneo Highway Sabah projects from Tuaran to Kudat would commence soon and that would give economic benefits to Pitas and its surroundings.

"We hope the local business community would take advantage of the ongoing development projects and my advice to landlords is not to sell their land as their property value will increase" he said.