Kota Kinabalu: Sabah hopes foreign countries that have issued travel restrictions against travelling to the State’s east coast will lift them soon.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said nine countries’ official representatives, including those from the US, UK, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Germany, France, Canada and Finland, were invited to see first-hand the security situation in Semporna two days ago.
Together with Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, they visited the islands of Sipadan, Kapalai and Mabul, she said after launching the three-day Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITA) 2024 from July 26 at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
“The reason for the visit was that they thought the security situation in Semporna was still like it was 20 years ago due to the kidnapping incidents.
“Semporna is now safe under the guidance of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom). So, seeing is believing because just hearing is not good enough.
“We also invited them to stay for two days. They were also briefed by Esscom officials to understand the security measures in place. We want to tell the world that Semporna is a lovely place as far as diving is concerned,” said Liew.
Additionally, she said Esscom would launch the “Friends of Esscom” application soon for visitors to contact them.
Liew said she was pleased with the visit, which showed a positive indication, and they are now waiting for the representatives to issue an official statement soon.
She said she would embark on more working visits to Semporna and other east coast towns every two to three months to inspect the tourism hotspots and gain a better understanding on the ground.
She said several new tourism products would be developed in the east coast, including the new tourist jetty in Tawau to cater to tourists visiting Semporna, as announced by the Chief Minister recently.
She said over 20 new chalets would be developed at the Tawau Hill Park to provide a night safari package.
“A food corridor will also be created at the lower Kinabatangan River, where they are currently planting napier grass for elephants to consume, aiming to reduce human-elephant conflict among the oil palm plantations.
“This will be an additional product for travel agencies to promote when selling Sabah overseas,” she said.
She said tourist guides would also be trained to advise tourists on health and safety risks before engaging in any water and air activities.
Meanwhile, Liew said the MITM Fair, featuring about 70 booths, is a crucial hub for gathering the latest information, attractive promotions and updated packages that benefit the local market.
“Looking forward, we are confident that with ongoing collaboration and innovation, we can elevate our tourism industry to new heights,” she said.
“This event transcends business; it is a celebration of cultural exchange. The diversity of exhibitors reflects the rich cultural heritage of different regions, fostering understanding and appreciation among all visitors,” she said.
Also present were the Consulate General of Indonesia in Kota Kinabalu, Consul (Economic Function) Lingga Setiawan, Sabah Tourism Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tay Shu Lan, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) President Patrick Law, MCTA Sabah Chairman Vincent Sia and other guests.
