15Apr

Sabah eyes four million tourist arrivals this year

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government hopes to achieve its target of four million tourist arrivals this year, up from the 3.8 million for 2018, Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin said. He said the government is targeting more balanced tourist arrivals from China, Europe, the United States and the countries in Oceania. “To achieve the target, the government will strive to enhance air accessibility to Sabah and diversify the tourism products of the state, especially in the rural areas and the east coast,” he said. Juhar delivered the policy speech when opening the first meeting of the second session of the current Sabah Legislative Assembly. He said the Sabah Government is also committed to ensuring that the tourism sector in the state remains vibrant and competitive by focusing on the beauty of nature and cultural heritage as the major tourism assets. He said that in line with this and the desire of the government to preserve the natural environment and boost eco-tourism, efforts are being taken to declare Mount Kinabalu and its surroundings, comprising the districts of Ranau, Kota Belud and Kota Marudu, as a National Geopark this year. “The area will be promoted to be a Unesco Global Geopark site by 2020. “Additionally, the government is also in the process of gazetting the Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu and Mantanani Island in Kota Belud as marine conservation areas,” he said. Juhar said that the government is committed to developing the manufacturing sector that has the potential to boost the economy of the state, as well as sectors such as tourism, agriculture and mining.“The government will maintain the policy banning the export of logs to stimulate the timber-based downstream industries such as furniture-making and provide more jobs. “This measure will directly help local manufacturers to generate economic opportunities and enjoy the multiplier effects of the local timber industry. The government has also identified an area in the Sandakan Palm Oil Industry Cluster (POIC) as a furniture manufacturing hub for Sabah,” he said. Juhar said the government will strive to spur high-value downstream activities in the state, especially in the downstream oil and gas industry in the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) and the Lahad Datu POIC. – Bernama Source: The Star Online
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15Mar

Mantanani and Darvel Bay move

SEMPORNA: The Sabah Parks will gazette two areas, namely Pulau Mantanani Complex in Kota Belud and Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu, as marine protected areas before 2023.SP Director Dr Jamili Nais said the move was in line with the SP sketch map whereby 10 of the waters of Sabah would have been gazetted by 2023. As such, he said currently, the 100,000ha Darvel Bay encompassing 50 surrounding islands has the potential to be gazetted earlier.‘’If we look at the current situation, in terms of timeline, the process has started and maybe (gazette) at the end of this year or early 2020, but most probably we gazette in the first quarter of 2020,’’ he said. Subsequently, Jamili said the Pulau Mantanani Complex would be gazetted in two years. In a scientific expedition organised by the Sabah Foundation in February, researchers found numerous interesting and unique marine data in Darvel Bay, Lahad Datu, which could be conserved and used for international tourism. Among the findings were several iconic diving sites, including blue holes (underwater sinkholes) and marine resources such as wild turtles and healthy corals. Quoting a local news portal, the operator of a diving centre Pirate Divers Glen Hapirulla, who is a native of Lahad Datu and an experienced diver, said 55 diving sites had been explored, including blue holes, in the waters of Silam since 2009. The Pulau Mantanani Complex is a resort area which is becoming increasingly popular as a diving recreational site among international tourists. Meanwhile, Sabah Parks is exploring the need for porters or mountain guides to accompany visitors up Pulau Bohey Dulang’s 700m high peak, just like in the Gunung Kinabalu National Park.“Bohey Dulang allows three times more climbers up its mountain compared to Gunung Kinabalu which allows just 135 people,” said Sabah Parks Board of Trustees Chairman, Mohd Amin Abd Mem.“At the moment, there are 250 guides and 100 porters registered with Sabah Parks who are able to go with climbers up Gunung Kinabalu to look out for their safety and bring their belongings.“So like the local community there, becoming a guide on Bohey Dulang would improve the income of the people here who could make RM230 per visitor on a two-day, one-night hike,” he said. On Tuesday, a new hiking route was opened for visitors to the island which is a 30-minute boat ride from Semporna town on the mainland. Sabah Parks worker, Ali Hassan, said 300 to 700 people, especially tourists from China, visit a day. Source: Daily Express
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14Mar

Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu to be gazetted in 2020

SEMPORNA: The Sabah Parks (SP) will gazette two areas, namely, Pulau Mantanani Complex in Kota Belud and Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu as marine protected areas before 2023. SP director Dr Jamili Nais said the move was in line with the SP sketch map whereby 10 of the waters of Sabah would have been gazetted by 2023. As such, he said that currently, the 100,000 ha Darvel Bay encompassing 50 surrounding islands had the potential to be gazetted earlier. ‘’If we look at the current situation, in terms of timeline, the process has started and maybe (gazette) at the end of this year or early 2020, but most probably we gazette in the first quarter of 2020,’’ he said. He said this when met after a programme to clear rubbish from the sea bottom and beaches of the Tun Sakaran Marine Park here. Subsequently, Jamili said the Pulau Mantanani Complex would be gazetted in two years. In a scientific expedition organised by the Sabah Foundation in February, researchers found numerous interesting and unique marine data in Darvel Bay, Lahad Datu which could be conserved and used for international tourism. Among the findings were several iconic diving sites including blue holes (underwater sinkholes) and marine resources such as wild turtles and healthy corals. Quoting a local news portal, the operator of a diving centre Pirate Divers Glen Hapirulla, who is a native of Lahad Datu and an experienced diver, said 55 diving sites had been explored including blue holes in the waters of Silam since 2009. The Pulau Mantanani Complex is a resort area which is becoming increasingly popular as a diving recreational site among international tourists. – Bernama Source: New Straits Times
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