THE State Government is targeting between RM20million and RM30million of sales in the ongoing nationwide Mega Sales Carnival (MSC) launched on Sunday.

Deputy Tourism, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Datuk Karim Bujang said the objective could be achieved especially when Sabah would be receiving thousands of domestic travellers for the 9th Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) in September.

"We are expecting full hotel occupancy during the eight-day games (Sept 7 - 14)," he said after launching the state MSC at Karamunsing Complex on Sunday.

He also said with the arrival of the international, regional and domestic travellers to Sabah , which is expected to exceed the government's target of one million arrival for this year, the sales target could be reached "easily".

Karim said participation from retailers in the Mega Sales carnival compared to last year's 316 approved sales permit in the same period, 484 in August and 66 in December.

"Since this is the first Mega Sales for this year, besides just having sales and promotion, let it be a public that the event will still be on and in a larger scale for the August and December carnival," he said.

He said the carnival objective was to make Malaysia "A Leading International Shopping Destination" apart from helping the country gain more revenue through foreign currency exchange and to encourage Malaysians to shop in their own country.

To a question, Karim said the purpose of having the carnival was also to enchance domestic shoppers' confidence on products made locally.

"We will also be encouraging foreign tourists to buy Malaysian products. In this way we can gain through foreign exchange currencies and help elevate the local and nation economies," he said.

On retailers who have missed registering with the mittee to prepare for the influx of guests both from domestic and internationally who would be here not only for the games but to see what Sabah has to offer in terms of sales.

He said it would be an excellent opportunity for the State to extend the August Mega Sales up to September as this could increase more buyers to shop.