Kota Kinabalu: The State government has been urged to develop more new tourism destinations to attract new and repeat visitors to Sabah following the recovery of the State tourism sector, said Api-Api Assemblywoman Datuk Christina Liew.
In this respect, she called on the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to reconsider the proposed Tawau Pangolin Sanctuary as a new wildlife tourist attraction (within the protected Tawau Hills Park).
She said it was mooted in 2018 during her tenure as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
“In fact, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the sanctuary was signed between the Arizona Sabah Pangolin Sanctuary and Research Institute (Sapsari Arizona) and Sabah Wildlife Department in June 2019.
“Founder of Sapsari Arizona Peter Chan is still committed and waiting to work with the State Government for the development of the project,” she said.
Christina said this in her speech when debating the 2023 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly, Monday.
While welcoming the State budget, she said she hoped it will propel Sabah towards economic recovery and bring relief to the rakyat, especially underprivileged families in the poorest districts.
“I am drawn to the State Government’s efforts to restore and develop the tourism sector through various initiatives next year, which I hope these will bear fruit to resuscitate Sabah’s economy.
“One such initiative is to promote Sabah internationally as a preferred destination for conventions and seminars.
“It is also heartening to note that the Government has established the Sabah Convention Bureau to accelerate the growth of the tourism industry,” Christina said.
Since the country has a new Federal Government with a new leader at the helm, she said she believed Sabah will be given greater attention and more financial allocation, to take the State out of the economic doldrums.
“We all know that Rome was not built in a day. So give the new Government enough time to address burning issues such as the high cost of living and floods as well as bad roads and also the high rate of poverty and unemployment in Sabah.
“With this, I beg to support the 2023 Sabah State Budget,” she said.
