Kota Kinabalu:With its topography, Kunak is endowed with natural assets to make it a “must visit” tourist destination, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew.
She concurred with Kunak Assemblywoman Norazlinah Arif that going by its attractions, the district has the potential to become a tourist hotspot, like other places of interest throughout the state.
“Apparently, Kunak has ‘hidden treasures’ for tourism development. It boasts beautiful islands and beaches which need to be exposed to attract both domestic and international tourists. Liew (seated) being shown images of Kunak’s natural attractions by Norazlinah.
“Most Sabahans, who are familiar with the Poring Hot Spring in Ranau, may be unaware that there is also a hot spring in Kunak. And there is the lesser known Madai Waterfall, a favourite spot for local residents,” Liew said after a courtesy call by Norazlinah, recently.
She called on tour operators to make Kunak a stopover destination in their packages for tourists travelling to Semporna from Tawau, given that Kunak is only 58km from the Tawau Airport.
The Kunak Assemblywoman sought the assistance of the Minister to rejuvenate the tourism industry in the district by improving the tourism infrastructure and upgrading existing facilities there.
According to Norazlinah, Kunak offers choices of a sightseeing tour or leisure tourism or adventure tourism to travellers who want to experience what it is like inside the Madai Cave, which is the habitat for a large number of swifts.
The Madai Cave and Madai Waterfall are within the jurisdiction of the Sabah Forestry Department.
Briefing Liew on Kunak’s tourism spots, Norazlinah said its islands, such as Pulau Boheyan, Pulau Maganting, Pulau Kun Kun and Pulau Pasir are just as idyllic as other better known islands in Sabah.
“An interesting feature of Pulau Boheyan is a 16m man-made underwater stone wall that was once used to prevent timber logs from drifting away.
Part of the wall is visible when the waters are shallow,” she shared. “Tour operators used to take visitors here but unfortunately, tourism activity came to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Similarly, the unique sandy stretch in the middle of the sea can be viewed during low tide which is why this natural asset is called Pulau Pasir, Norazlinah explained.
“I have invited the Minister to come and see for herself what Kunak has to offer,” she said.