16Jul

Seven investors eye tourism projects in Semporna

SEMPORNA: Investors from China, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are looking for opportunities to expand investments in the tourism sector in Semporna. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong said seven investors categorised as billionaires were now in Semporna and were looking at the potential of developing the tourism sector in Semporna. “They met Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and offered to develop Semporna. They have also met me and among others have stated that problems like garbage need to be addressed immediately towards plans to make Semporna a world-class tourist destination,” he said. Jaujan, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister and Sulabayan assemblyman, said this when met by reporters at the Bukit Lalang District Voting Centre Aidil Fitri Open House here. According to Jaujan, Semporna was akin to a valuable pearl that needed to be utilised and the local community had a role in safeguarding its beauty besides highlighting the cultural uniqueness, especially of the Bajau community. Meanwhile, he also hoped Silam Member of Parliament from Party Warisan Sabah, Mohammadin Ketapi, who was appointed as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, could lift the Sabah tourism sector, especially Semporna to the global level. “A seven-star tourism industry is not only valued from the aspect of natural beauty but needs to get support in terms of tourism infrastructure and this requires the strong partnership between the federal and state governments,” he said. In the meantime, according to Jaujan, the tourism ministry could reach a consensus to increase direct flights from abroad such as China, South Korea and Japan to Sabah, especially in Tawau. “There are complaints from international travellers arriving in Semporna following limited flights and being forced to board more than two flights before arriving in Semporna. “They want direct flights to the east coast of Sabah because they love the marine resources attractions in Semporna,” he said, adding that, currently, 60,000 foreign and domestic tourists were recorded to have visited Semporna every month. Source: The Borneo Post
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16Jul

Tawau as next tourist destination

Tawau: The Tawau Tourism Packages, which offers more than 30 tour packages involving 23 travel agents, was launched Friday with the hope of turning the district into a popular tourist destination. Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew, who officiated at the launch, hoped the initiative taken by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) would bring development for Tawau and boost its tourism industry. "The time has come for Tawau to be active in the field even though it's quite late," she said. She said tourism is the only industry that employs 90 per cent of locals and that is what the ministry wants to promote so that it could offer job opportunities for locals. "You can't find any industry apart from tourism with so many local workers. In the plantation and construction industries, we have many foreign workers but in tourism we have locals," she said, adding that she felt sad Sabahans needed to go outside of the State to work in factories. Christina said the launching of the Tourism Packages in the "Visit Tawau 2018/2019" was in line with the target to promote domestic tourism among Malaysians that includes Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah before going to push Tawau for international tourism next year, especially among Chinese and European tourists. She said she is confident of Tawau meeting the international tourism target but is a little worried if it is ready to accommodate the needs of foreign tourists such as hotel rooms and tour guides. "I know Tawau has what it takes. It has its own unique attractions that other places do not have. Like this morning when I visited the Tawau Hills Park, I was honestly impressed… I didn't even know that we have such a beautiful natural beauty," she said. She added that the existence of the tallest tropical tree in the world (96.9 metres) at Tawau Hill Park will be also part of the tourism packages that will boost international tourism here. Earlier in her speech, the Tawau MP said one of the most effective ways to attract visitors to Tawau is for the locals to invest more in tourism infrastructure. "They should spruce up the existing facilities and beatify the town such as by applying a fresh coat of paint on those that have faded and plant more trees and flowers to add colour and vibrancy to the town," she said. She also assured that the State Government would provide the necessary support to make Tawau a tourism hotspot in Borneo. Matta President Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the Tawau tour packages span a wide area, from Maliau Basin at the north-west of Tawau to Semporna on the east, which include wide ranging products offered by many tour and transport operators, accommodation providers, restaurants, attractions, cottage industries and shops. He said the packages, which cater for China, Europe and domestic tourists, are available through travel agents' distribution channels and e-marketing. "We are focusing on several key countries that contribute to the most number of visitors to Sabah for the first four months of this year. Apart from domestic tourists, foreign visitors are mainly from China, South Korea, Taiwan, UK, Ireland, Australia and Singapore," he said. "However, to place Tawau on the world tourism map and become one of the hotspots, it involves all parties, not only Matta or the Minister concerned, to play their part. "I therefore urge all local industry players in Tawau to participate fully and ethically to nurture a healthy and sustainable tourism industry, which will boost the local economy, provide jobs and raise the quality of life for the locals." - Lagatah Toyos Source: Daily Express
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11Jul

Turtle conservation efforts in Kampung Tempurung

KUALA PENYU: An awareness programme will be carry out in Kampung Tempurung here to educate the villagers to conserve the sea turtles. The conservation efforts will enable the sea turtles to come ashore for nesting and these activities can be turn into a tourism product. “We want to educate the villagers to protect and don’t disturb or catch the sea turtles as they are a protected endangered species,” said Tempurung Golden Beach Resort operator Jack Koh. “The conservation of the sea turtles will benefit the villagers as the arrival of visitors will also create job opportunities for them,” said Koh when hosting a luncheon for Kuala Penyu District Officer Sebastian Ingkim in conjunction with the release of a batch of hawksbill hatchlings to the Tempurung beach on Monday. Also invited were Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (SATTA) members led by its chairman Dato’ Seri Winston Liaw, Wildlife Department officer Abd Rahimin Ag Yahya, SK Pekan Kuala Penyu’s pupils and some taiji practitioners from Kota Kinabalu. Koh suggested the villages can be train to become a warden to petrol the shore and protect the sea turtles. “We have an encouraging support from the village chief here to carry out the awareness programme to promote the conservation effort,” he added. Liaw said SATTA members were glad to be invited to witness the release of the hatchlings as this could be yet another tourism product for them to market. “Most of us actually never experience this moment before and this is a very meaningful visit for us to not only see the hatchlings but also explore this place,” he said. Rahimin said the sea turtles are totally protected marine creatures under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and it is an offence to disturb or catch them. “Avoid disturbing the sea turtles. Since they are a totally protected species, we are not allowed to hold them. We can only watch and take picture,” he explained. Sebastian hopes more people will come to Kampung Tempurung to boost the local tourism industry. Source: New Sabah Times
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11Jul

Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve focus for scientific research, ecotourism

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s natural wonders in the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve in Sabdakan is set to be the focus for scientific research and ecotourism development with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) yesterday between Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd. “This joint research collaboration which is based on a matching grant totaling RM211,095 will cover three main objectives: wildlife population, silviculture management (growing and cultivation of trees) and ecotourism potential in KTS Plantations (KTSP),” said KTS Group of Companies deputy managing director Temenggong Dato Vincent Lao. In his address at the signing ceremony, Vincent highlighted that the focus areas identified in the joint research initiative are critical for achieving sustainable forest management in the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve (SLFR). The signing marked the next phase of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish three-year agreement to enhance cooperation in research, training and academic partnership which was signed between the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), UMS and KTSP. Situated in northeast of Deramakot Forest Reserve in Sandakan, the SLFR is one of the few areas with the highest biodiversity and concentration of rare, threatened and endangered endemic species in Sabah. Much of the reserve is undisturbed with pristine dipterocarp rainforest, and is being managed by KTSPlantation Sdn Bhd. “The protection of the priceless endemic flora and fauna has always been one of our top priorities, but we feel it’s also important that we share the beauty of Sabah’s rainforests with the world,” said Vincent. Apart from developing ecotourism attractions in the reserve, he said research collaboration in the Segaliud Forest Reserve serves as an important platform for the university to carry out research, student’s industrial training and thesis for final year projects. “This joint-research initiative is a fantastic opportunity and we sincerely hope there will be many more collaborations of this nature in the future,” he said. Meanwhile, UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kamaruddin D. Mudin said the partnership between the University and KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd seeks to improve sustainable forest management practices through scientific research. “With the signing, we hope this joint research initiative will further enhance understanding and provide better inputs to help resolve strategic challenges needed to improve sustainable forest management,” he said in his speech read by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) Rasid Mail. Meanwhile, Sabah Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan described the initiative as an important step to strengthen research and development activities between UMS and KTS on forest resource management. The text of his speech was delivered by SFD Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests (Research) Dr Robert Ong. “This is an excellent initiative in line with the state government’s efforts to enhance the efficiency of sustainable forest management taking into account the three pillars of sustainability which covers social, environment and economic aspects,” Sam said. He said the state government remains committed to its mission to expand forest conservation efforts and remains on track to achieve its target of 30 per cent Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) by 2025, with current TPAarea at 26 percent or 1.9 million hectares. Source: New Sabah Times
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06Jul

SK Sayap Kota Belud scores a first in education-based tourism programme

KOTA BELUD: SK Sayap Kota Belud is the first rural primary school in Malaysia to implement an education-based tourism programme. SK Sayap which is located 20km from Pekan Kota Belud and situated at a panoramic view of Mount Kinabalu intends to be the hub and pioneer of Edu-Tourism School in Kadamaian as well as in the nation. Programme coordinator, Boniface Jiran said the school’s Edu-Tourism Kampung Sayap is among the tourism products under the Kampung Sayap Tourism Village Committee which was supported by the school’s Parents and Teacher Association (PIBG) and Kadamaian assemblyman Ewon Benedick. “Besides the school’s beautiful view of Mount Kinabalu, there are also six education huts where each of the huts has their own unique landscape and there is one upside down hut which features Kadazandusun culture,” he said, adding that since its inception, it has attracted thousands of visitors and tourists. “For the Kampung Sayap community, SK Sayap edu-tourism through FGHT (Focus Group Hiking Team) has helped a lot especially in developing its own tourism products and packages as well as providing guidance to tour operators to promote their tourism product. “As a result, Kg Sayap Tourism or better known as Kg Sayap Eco-edu Tourism has grown to the extent of successfully developing almost 38 tourism products comprising services, accommodation, retail, hill-mountain hiking, cave, waterfall, Rafflesia flowers, food, historical sites, and culture and arts,” he added. He also applauded the State Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) for bringing in the Rural Tourism Mini Estet Sejahtera (MESEJ) programme and believed that Edu-Tourism in SK Sayap can be developed. He also stated that the village will also be getting benefits through the positive development of rural tourism industry such as upgrading and building the village roads. “Besides that, this would also help boost the students’ academic achievement through the implementation of the Edu-Tourism programme. “We are proud that our students can now read, write, and calculate well after the implementation of the programme. This is because with various visitors from foreign countries such as Japan and England, it has motivated the students to be more confident in speaking English. The motivation to boost their confidence in speaking English is due to visits from tourists from foreign countries such as Japan and England. Meanwhile, SK Sayap teacher Kingfier Missin expressed his gratitude to Ewon Benedick, who is also the Minister of Rural Development Sabah for donating a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a projector to the school as well as RM5,000 cash as a touch point for developing SK Sayap tourism industry. He explained that the LCD and projector would surely be useful for the 150 students of SK Sayap in their study session. Speaking at the SK Sayap Kaamatan and Hari Raya celebration, Ewon hoped that the SK Sayap Edu-Tourism programme can be an example to other schools in the state. “This will be another attraction for Kampung Sayap which is already known as a tourist destination with natural beauties such as the mountain forests and rivers in Kota Belud,” he said. Source: New Sabah Times
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