24Sep

Bum Bum introduced as Sabah’s first macro dive site destination

SEMPORNA: Sabah introduced Bum Bum Island as its first dedicated macro dive site destination in Malaysia through its first edition of 2019 Sabah Underwater Photography Festival (Macro edition) which ended on Sunday.Sabah Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) Director, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar, said the four-day festival was also a preparation for Sabah to usher the 2020 Visit Malaysia Year campaign.“This festival is a continuation from the exploratory activities previously done by the State Motac in an effort to identify the uniqueness of the Bum Bum Island as a potential destination for macro dive site to be introduced to the world community. “The area along the passage of the island houses many small size macro species, including endemic species,” he said during the prize presentation ceremony of the competition, here, Sunday night. A total of 15 photographers from Sabah and Kuala Lumpur took part in the competition. According to him, the pictures shot by the winner will be used as the promotional materials to introduce the waters of Bum Bum Island as a macro muck diving destination.“We will be using the social media platform too to promote this macro photography by encouraging participants to use the hashtag #VM2020. The pictures will also be displayed in every programme organised by the Motac,” Ahmad Zaki said.He explained that the competition involved professional judges in the field of underwater photography, in particular macro photography, who were professional instructors from Diving Instructor World Association (DIWA) namely Patrick Ong See Hoong from Kuala Lumpur and Zulkarnain Ng Abdullah and Nicholas Teh from Singapore. Source: Daily Express
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01Aug

Luxury yacht boost to Semporna tourism

KOTA KINABALU: Borneo Serenity, a luxury yacht offered by Lazy Cat International Travel Service Co. Ltd. for high-end catering in Sabah, is a shot in the arm for Semporna’s tourism sector, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew. Lazy Cat International is a prominent online travel company in China. Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, noted that the company has always had a strong relationship with the tourism industry in Sabah as reflected in its continuity of bringing a large number of young tourists to Sabah. “I congratulate Lazy Cat Travel on its investment and collaboration with local companies in Sabah. The yacht will soon offer day trips in Semporna which is a great idea to diversify its tour offerings. I understand the company will start its operation in two weeks’ time,” she said when officiating at the Borneo Serenity Maiden Voyage Ceremony at the Marina Jetty, Sutera Harbour Resort on Monday. Built in China with a European design and capacity of 50 to 60 people, Borneo Serenity was completed two months ago at a cost of 10 million RMB. From Liew’s observation, the acceleration of tourism development in Sabah in recent years somewhat coincides with the growth of Chinese tourists visiting Sabah every year. Quoting statistics from Sabah Tourism Board (STB), she said in 2018 alone, some 593,623 Chinese tourists visited Sabah. “To date, we have 93 scheduled flights from China into Kota Kinabalu and several charter flights throughout the year.” According to the Minister, Sabah is seeing more free independent travellers (FITs) who are eager to explore more of Sabah. “Many of them may have already come to Kota Kinabalu on their first trip and now, I reckon they have expanded their adventures to the East Coast of Sabah,” she said. Liew attributed the Chinese tourists’ enthusiasm for Sabah to its rich tourism resources such as Semporna dubbed “Little Maldives” with its white and fine sandy beaches, and a crystal-clear blue sea and sky; Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, has one of the three most beautiful sunsets in the world; famous mangroves and fireflies; and Sandakan with a variety of wildlife and nature encounters. “In addition, the simple folk customs and diverse culture also make Sabah a favourite among Chinese tourists.” Also present were the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, Vice Consul-General Wu Xiaoqing, STB Chairman Ken Pan Ying On, STB General Manager Noredah Othman, Chairman of Lazy Cat International Travel Service Co. Ltd, Zhao Jun and Company CEO Yang Jing, STB Senior Marketing Manager Tay Shu Lan and Tourism Malaysia Representative (China Market) Sharon Ho. Source: Borneo Post Online
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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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