Task force set up to revive Labuan's economy
Published on: Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Labuan: The Cabinet has established a special task force to look into ways to help revive Labuan's economy following the slowdown in the island's oil and gas (O&G) sector.Speaking to reporters here, Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Rozman Isli said the task force, whose members comprise Cabinet ministers, was formed during a recent Cabinet meeting."We should be thankful to the Federal Territories Minister for highlighting to the Federal Government the various issues plaguing Labuan," he said at a traditional welcome for the maiden arrival of a Chinese tour group at the Labuan International Ferry Terminal here.
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Rozman said the task force would be a platform for Labuan residents to highlight issues that require the Government's attention, including upgrading works on the ferry terminal. Besides the slowdown in the O&G sector, other issues include the absence of a port authority to regulate port charges and related issues, new Customs ruling, the status of Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Labuan International Campus, indiscriminate pricing of consumer goods, award of government projects to local contractors and the issuance of an air service licence by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia for charter flights from China to the island. Meanwhile, Labuan on Tuesday saw the maiden arrival of a group of 108 Chinese tourists as part of efforts to kick-start the transformation of the duty-free island's tourism industry into a revenue magnet.The group from Nanning in Guangxi province arrived via a direct chartered flight to Kota Kinabalu before they were ferried by a Labuan 3 Ferry Express to the island about 11.30am.
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The tourists, who were given a traditional welcome, will be taken around Labuan town for duty-free items, historical sites, museum and beaches.Rozman said the arrival of the tourists was a 'kick-start' in tourism efforts to turn the island into a premier tourist destination.
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"We are glad to welcome the Chinese tourists to the island as China is a big market in terms of tourism."As we are welcoming foreign tourist arrivals, upgrading works on tourism facilities are also in the pipeline to boost our tourism sector," he told reporters at the Labuan International Ferry Terminal, here.He said tourism-related industry players, including eatery operators should prepare for a 'big change' in Labuan, as Chinese tourist arrivals would continue until year-end, either via Kota Kinabalu or neighbouring Brunei."With the arrival of large groups of Chinese tourists at least once a week, we expect business activities and services on the island to quadruple, and the demand for domestic accommodation to certainly, double."Let's show that we are prepared to welcome them with our friendly services. We want this first group to be the marketer of our tourism products to other tourists, probably, via the latest technology of gadget-to-gadget," added Rozman.Rozman, who is also Labuan Corporation Chairman said efforts were also underway to lure foreign tourists, including South Koreans, into the island in collaboration with other states' tour agents.The arrival of the first batch of Chinese tourist was initiated by Labuan MCA Chief Datuk Chin Hong Vui through a series of discussions with foreign tour agents to assist the Labuan tourism development."I was just doing my part as one of the Labuan's community leaders and a corporate citizen to help our tourism sector. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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