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Kota Kinabalu: Chairman of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Ken Pan Ying On has been appointed as Person-in-Charge of the development of tourism products in Tawau and Semporna.

Announcing this at a meeting on tourism-related matters with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Sri Pelancongan Sabah (SPS) on Wednesday, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew said the move was to achieve a balanced tourism growth in the two districts.

“Ken will be responsible for devising plans to spread out the economic benefits of tourism between Tawau and Semporna. Right now, there is a concentration of tourists in Semporna, where the world renowned Sipadan diving paradise is located,” she said.

Towards easing the congestion in Semporna, Liew emphasised the need for new tourism infrastructure development in Tawau as an added attraction to make tourists stay longer in this east coast town.

“For a start, there are plans to build a jetty in Tawau to facilitate boat travel as an alternative mode of transport for tourists who intend to make day trips from Tawau to Semporna. 

“Secondly, we encourage investors to develop the Tawau Hills Park as a tourist hotspot,” she said.

Also present were KePKAS Deputy Permanent Secretary II Alesia Sion and Assistant Secretary Lanah Sungkoling, STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, SPS Chief Executive Officer Thonny Chee, Chief Operating Officer Fidelis Francis and Communications Manager Azeera Azeasharmel.