Semporna very safe now, govts to get travel advisory lifted – Liew

KOTA KINABAU (July 27): The State and Federal Governments have embarked on a mission to get the travel advisory against visiting some islands in Sabah that was issued by the governments of some countries, lifted.

According to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew, she and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail played host to a delegation of foreign diplomats to Semporna over the weekend.

“I was in Semporna yesterday accompanying our Home Minister and we visited three islands namely Sipadan, Kapalai and Mabul with the ambassadors and consuls of nine countries.

“Some of these countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens on traveling to some islands in Sabah because of the kidnappings that happened 20 years ago. We want to tell them that the last incident in Sabah was about 20 years ago and Semporna is very safe now under the watchful eyes of the ESSCom, military and police,” she said.

“We want to tell the world that Semporna in Sabah is a lovely diving spot and is safe,” she said and expressed hope that the diplomats will go back to their respective countries to brief their governments positively about the situation here.

Liew also said that the presence of the security forces in the East Coast speaks for itself as there has been no repeat of the kidnapping incidents.

According to her, ESSCom during its briefing for the delegation, disclosed that it is developing a digital monitoring system of tourists visiting the east coast.

“They are developing the ‘Friends of Sabah’ app and through it, the location of every tourist in the area can be known,” she told reporters after officiating the Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) 2024 here on Saturday.

Liew also said that she wants to see tourist guides in Sabah trained to be more vigilant on the safety of their guests, especially in risky areas or when they participate in certain activities.

“The tour guides must monitor and advise the tourists to take extra care. If they are not physically fit for some of the activities, advise them against participating in it and always remind them to wear a life jacket when participating in water related activities. These are some of what we want the tour guides to do,” she said, adding that she would be conducting more frequent working visits to the state’s tourism hotspots as she wants to understand what are the problems on the ground.

“I want to know why incidents or mishaps happened and how we can prevent the incidents. One typical example is a tourist may see the sea for the first time and get very excited. Even though they may have been advised to exercise care, they let their excitement take over resulting in incidents.

“To prevent accidents, we have formed a committee that will have units stationed in several areas to take immediate action in case of an emergency,” she said.

Liew also disclosed the state government’s plan for the development of two new products in Tawau, namely the construction of a tourist jetty for ferries to take passengers to Semporna and the development of Tawau Hills Park.

She pointed out that as there are not enough rooms in Semporna for tourists, they are offered the alternative to stay in Tawau and take the ferry to Semporna.

Tawau Hills Park, Liew said, would be developed into a tourist hub with chalets and programs for visitors such as a night safari at the park.

“Tourists come to Tawau to stay and enjoy the activities there and also can go to Semporna for diving. This will ease the accommodation shortage in Semporna,” she said.

Liew also announced the development of an elephant corridor along Kinabatangan River in Sandakan and a professional has been appointed to study the kind of plants that would be the food source for the elephants and wildlife there.

“Napier grass is one of the plants and once the elephants migrate to the area then there will be less human-elephant conflict with the oil palm plantations,” she said, adding that the corridor will become a new tourist attraction.

“We have other plans for Kota Kinabalu which I will announce once the plans are firm. Five to six plans for new tourism products are expected to be implemented before the end of the year,” she said.

In her speech when officiating the Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) 2024 earlier, Liew said that tourism remains the backbone of Sabah’s economy, with inbound tourism playing a pivotal role.

Events like the MITM 2024 are crucial hubs for gathering the latest information, attractive promotions and updated packages, she pointed out.

“This benefits our local market immensely and showcases our competitiveness and allure to people worldwide. This event transcends business; it is a celebration of cultural exchange. The diversity of exhibitors here today reflects the rich cultural heritage of different regions, fostering understanding and appreciation among all visitors,” Liew added.

She said that the organiser, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA), Sabah Chapter have introduced exciting innovations to enhance the MITM Fair and their international collaboration with foreign partners like the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Indonesia Consulate and Taiwan Tourism Bureau enriches the fair and provides invaluable opportunities for attendees.

“Looking forward, we are confident that with ongoing collaboration and innovation, we can elevate our tourism industry to new heights. Events like the MITM Fair provide an excellent platform to showcase our strengths and seize new opportunities,” Liew said.

“I encourage all exhibitors and participants to make the most of this fair. You need to network, share ideas and explore new partnerships. The State Government is here to support you in all your endeavours,” she added.