The numerous incidents of visitors getting into different kinds of mishaps while in Sabah—both on land and at sea, with some even ending in fatalities—are hurting the country's reputation as a travel destination.
To prevent additional instances of this nature, Sabah's relevant agencies are being urged by the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to reinforce their safety protocols.
In Kuala Lumpur, Tiong presided over a special meeting on the subject that was attended by members of Motac, the Sabah Tourism Board, the Semporna District Office, the Sabah Police, the Sabah and Labuan Marine Department, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment.
Its goal was to lower the likelihood of such mishaps and together enhance the safety features of regional tourism.
Over 13 incidents involving tourists have been reported in Sabah thus far, including a foreign tourist's drowning in Kudat in July of this year and an overturned boat incident on Pulau Timba- Timba.
"Restoring the nation's tourism business requires addressing this pressing issue.
He expressed regret that Sabah, a well-known tourist destination in Malaysia that attracts tourists from across the world, is now starting to lose its reputation as a result of the events that have happened this year. These incidents have also had an impact on the country's tourism sector.
To rebuild visitor confidence, Tiong stated that all relevant ministries and stakeholders— including the travel and tourism sector itself—must show commitment and deal with these problems right away.
Strengthening safety regulations, ensuring boat operators have a valid license to conduct water sports activities, and making sure security monitoring is effectively conducted were some of the primary topics covered at the meeting.
"To ensure that established security guidelines are fully complied with, law enforcement agencies should take stricter measures, including conducting surprise inspections. They should also act strictly against any violation, thereby maximizing the safety of tourists," he said.
As an extra precaution, the qualifications of scuba diving instructors must be shown and thoroughly examined before allowing them to carry out any activity. This ensures the quality of the diving experience for tourists and addresses hygiene issues in the lodging environment. The necessity for scuba diving instructors to hold a recognized and regularly updated license was also discussed.
"Our top priority is the safety of tourists." Therefore, to guarantee the tourism sector's sustainable growth and the safety of its visitors, we require the full cooperation of all stakeholders, including industry players.
emergency plans to their employees. This will guarantee that hygienic and quality standards are fulfilled and that emergencies can be handled more skillfully," he stated.
Additionally, he urged the State Government to keep an eye on and enhance the caliber of local tourism, noting that a better experience will boost visitors' confidence, possibly entice them to return, spur economic growth, and generate employment opportunities.
"All stakeholders must fulfill their shared responsibilities, stop unwelcome events or incidents from occurring in the future, boost trust in the Malaysian tourism sector, and repair the sector's reputation," he stated.
Tiong recently voiced his displeasure with Semporna's lack of cleanliness and threatened to issue a red notice if visitor complaints went unanswered.
Along with other complaints, he was contacted about food poisoning, pest infestations, inadequate hospitality services, and trash that had been left lying around in different parts of Semporna and was emitting an offensive stench.