Kota Kinabalu: The State government has been urged to introduce stricter regulations on tourism touts in Sabah following concerns over illegal and aggressive practices, particularly at Jesselton Point.
LDP Vice President David Ong
(pic) said incidents involving touts, including public disputes and fights, are becoming a worrying trend that could affect tourist safety and the State’s image.
“The root of the problem lies in the lack of proper regulation, weak enforcement, and the absence of a structured system to manage frontline tourism operators,” he said.
He proposed a mandatory registration and licensing system to ensure only authorised individuals deal directly with tourists, alongside stricter and consistent enforcement against illegal touting.
The call follows a recent incident in which a dispute between tourism workers escalated into a brawl at Jesselton Point, reportedly involving competition for customers.
David also suggested confining ticket sales to authorised counters and setting up tourist police booths at key hotspots to improve enforcement and safeguard visitors.
