Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Luyang Assemblyman Samuel Wong said the real measure of success of talks between the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing lay in whether there are sustained effective actions on the ground.
He said long-standing issues such as illegal tour guides, unlicensed operators, safety standards and ageing infrastructure have been repeatedly raised over the years and should no longer be addressed through ad hoc enforcement or one-off meetings.
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“Sabah’s tourism industry cannot afford cosmetic solutions. What is needed are clear outcomes, strong coordination and continuous engagement with stakeholders directly involved in the sector,” he said in a statement.
Samuel urged the authorities to institutionalise regular and structured engagement with licensed tour operators, dive and boat operators, as well as industry associations, noting that industry players are best placed to identify enforcement gaps, operational weaknesses and emerging risks.
He said effective policies require constant dialogue to help distinguish legitimate operators from illegal ones and to develop practical, workable solutions.
Referring to media reports over the past three years, Samuel noted that more than a dozen tourist fatalities have been recorded in Sabah involving tourism-related activities such as island visits, water-based activities and outdoor recreation, including cases involving foreign tourists.
“These incidents point to persistent weaknesses in enforcement, safety compliance and regulation, particularly in high-risk tourism activities,” he said.
He called for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to carry out regular and comprehensive spot checks on illegal tour agencies and guides, unlicensed tour vans, unauthorised jetties and other unlawful tourism-related operations.
“Enforcement must be visible, coordinated and consistent, with penalties sufficiently firm to act as a deterrent and prevent avoidable accidents,” he said.
Samuel also urged the Sabah Tourism Board to set up a clear and user-friendly mechanism for handling tourist complaints and feedback, including safety concerns, service quality, unethical practices and the growing problem of online scams involving fake accommodations and dubious tour packages.
He said thousands of scam cases have been reported statewide in recent years, including travel-related frauds that affect visitors directly or indirectly.
“These scams not only cause financial losses but also harm Sabah’s reputation as a safe and reliable destination,” he said.
Samuel stressed that tourist safety, enforcement and regulatory credibility must be treated as core components of tourism infrastructure, particularly with Visit Malaysia 2026 approaching.
“Sabah must be ready not just to attract tourists, but to protect them and ensure credible services. Meetings must translate into measurable improvements in safety, licensing, infrastructure and enforcement,” he said.
