Kota Kinabalu: China is facing complications in issuing passports for their citizens and hence the delay in the expected flock of mainland tourists.
State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew said the technicality was revealed to her during a recent Sabah Tourism Board meeting.
“Tourists from china are very eager to travel again but we can only be seeing more China tourists in Sabah by March.
“However we are open not only for China but the whole world. This year will be a busy year for state tourism,” she said.
Christina said her Ministry will be going on an international roadshow to promote Sabah as a welcoming tourism destination.
“We are visiting China soon to deal with airlines which had previously offered direct flights to Sabah namely Shanghai and Fujian airlines in resuming their services,” she added.
She was met after officiating the Ethnic Solidarity Seminar and International Indigenous Language Day 2023 held at J Borneo Native Village in Penampang.
The theme was based on a study conducted by University Malaysia Sabah called Unity in Diversity: Indigenous Languages Cultures as Platform for Ethnic Solidarity which began in Nov 2022.
“It’s an excellent programme in working towards forming a united front for all 35 ethnic and 217 sub ethnic groups that exist in Sabah. This is important in working to form a united front where we can celebrate our differences
“It’s a one day seminar to promote our economy, culture and education. I’m more than happy to see this happening for Sabah because we are strongly promoting them (ethnic groups) which is unique to world as a tourism attraction in the year 2023,” she said.
Meanwhile, she said the next State Assembly sitting in March would likely be focused on the passing of the anti-hop law.
On a separate issue, Christina said she will be looking into claims of an abandoned Tip of Borneo upgrading project in Kudat where locals claiming to be guides are profiting RM 10 per head off tourists through a backdoor entrance.
The supposed renovation works have taken more than a year yet is stagnant.
“I am unaware of this issue but you will be hearing from me very soon. I’m surprised that it has been closed for tourists yet still some people are making money off it. The upgrading works were given the go before my time. This is very serious,” she said.
A tourist who paid for the illegal tour recently noted that copper signages there were also looted.
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