SANDAKAN — Good news for tourism development in Sandakan and Batu Sapi.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture at a Chinese New Year celebration in Sandakan (Feb 16) announced an allocation of RM200,000 each to Sandakan and Batu Sapi parliamentary constituencies.
The funds are specifically for the development of the tourism industry to enhance the economic prospects of the residents in these areas.
“We at the ministry are doing our best to attract tourists to our country, especially to Sabah.
”With an increasing number of tourists visiting, there’s great potential for growth within our tourism industry and this would significantly impact various sectors such as food, restaurants, hotels, and logistics,” he told reporters.
Tiong highlighted the importance of advancing tourism development in every region to attract both domestic and international tourists.
He also noted an increase in charter and additional flights to Peninsular Malaysia and expressed hope for the same in Sabah, adding that the ministry was actively promoting tourism destinations in Sabah.
Tiong urged coastal residents and islanders to maintain cleanliness in the country’s waters and refrain from littering in the sea, Bernama reported.
Also attending the event YB Vivian Wong Shir Yee, Sandakan MP, Datuk George Hiew Vun Jin, Karamunting assemblyman, Dato’ Chew Kok Woh, Organizing Chairman and Henry Idol of Sandakan City Council President.
Last November, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister suggested that the Sabah government change the status of Batu Sapi from an industrial zone to a tourism destination.
Batu Sapi was more suitable for tourism and seafaring industry rather than for industrial development, said Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.