Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said delays in approving applications for tourism licensing in Sabah should not arise.
“Hence, I reiterate my call to the Federal Government to empower Sabah to approve and issue the various types of tourism licensing.
“I have received complaints that applications for a new licence or renewal take a long time to be approved by Motac (Federal Tourism Ministry).
“I was informed that when some of them made inquiries at the Motac Sabah Office, they were told to contact Putrajaya directly,” Liew said, following a courtesy call by a delegation from the Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA), Sabah Chapter. The scenario at the KKIA on Wednesday night.
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“Whenever I call, I get the same answer – it is still under processing in Putrajaya,” the frustrated member lamented.
The delegation comprised MCTA Sabah Chapter Chairman Vincent Sia, Vice-Chairman Amity Wong, Treasurer Jimmy Wong Kui Hiung and committee member Julie Wong.
The Sabah Chapter has written a letter to the Minister to enlighten her on the problems facing its members, including the illegal operation of unlicensed “white vans” used for transporting tourists from one destination to another.
Liew was told of tourism player who has been waiting more than two months just for approval of a change of address and for it to be updated in her tourism operation licence.
“This is because of the rule that if one’s address is not updated, one will not be able to apply for a licence for one’s excursion bus, for example.
Meanwhile, the delegation invited the Minister to launch the Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) Fair on August 19 at Suria Sabah, here.
In his briefing, Jimmy, who is also the Organising Chairman, said MCTA last organised the MITM Fair in 2019, after which it was stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It will feature some 49 exhibition booths that will be put up by MCTA members from Sabah, Penang, Selangor, Perak, Labuan, Sarawak and Negri Sembilan Chapters, among others.
“We will also allocate booths for community-based tour operators, including those from Kiulu and Tambunan, to showcase their rural tourism products,” he said.
According to Jimmy, the MITM Fair is a platform for promoting both inbound and outbound tourism, with participation by tourism players from as far as Semporna, Tenom, Kuala Penyu and Kudat.
Also present was the Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking.
Meanwhile, Liew also urged Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) to expedite the upgrading the facilities at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), citing the chaotic situation on Wednesday night when five airlines from South Korea with 1,098 passengers landed at close intervals.
Based on information from the KKIA Management, Liew said the airlines were Jin Air (arriving from Incheon at 9.47pm with 385 passengers); Jeju Air (from Incheon, 157 passengers); Air Busan (from Busan at 10.40pm, 193 passengers); Jeju Air (from Incheon at 11.25pm, 179 passengers); and T’way (from Incheon at 11.49pm, 184 passengers).
“I have received feedback from tourism players and members of the business community that the toilets were glaringly inadequate, and there is pressing need to extend the terminal.
“All the 10 available counters were opened that night. Clearly, we need more immigration counters, and I think a reconfiguration of the counters is warranted to ease congestion and smoothen the clearance process,” she said.
She lamented that her forewarning prior to the anticipated reopening of international borders was not heeded seriously by the relevant authorities.
She said the KKIA Management must start extending existing toilets to cope with the influx of international and domestic tourists.
On July 25, she was informed by the MASB Management that it has allocated RM8.4 million for upgrading the facilities at KKIA.
Of the figure, RM1.4 million was to be spent on improving the toilets by adding more cubicles, while the remainder on other upgrading projects.
These include resurfacing of the runway, and upgrading of the commercial lots as well as the public address (PA) system.
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