SEMPORNA: The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) has formed a special task force committee to strengthen enforcement and address key issues in Semporna’s tourism industry.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said Semporna will serve as a model for restructuring Sabah’s tourism industry, focusing on licensing compliance, tourist safety and infrastructure improvements.
“KePKAS will no longer compromise with operators who fail to comply with the law. In Semporna, of the 190 tourism premises identified, only 46 hold valid licences. The Ministry has provided a three-month compliance period, starting in January 2026, before an integrated operation (Ops Bersepadu) is conducted.
“As a step towards increasing transparency and tourist confidence, the Ministry has proactively uploaded the list of the 46 licensed premises on its official website for public reference,” he said in a statement, Saturday.
To enhance tourist safety, Jafry said only three official jetties are authorised to operate, namely Bangau-Bangau Jetty, Seafest Jetty and Kapalai Resort Jetty. Illegal jetties will be subject to enforcement actions, including demolition.
“This enforcement is vital to ensure all tourist movements are systematically recorded, facilitating security and rescue operations in the event of an incident,” he said.
Jafry said industry stakeholders must fully understand and comply with all regulations, as these are required to maintain the quality and safety of the district’s tourism sector.
He also said technical agencies, such as the Land and Survey Department, will continue to facilitate and coordinate application processes to support operators committed to compliance.
“Enforcement patrols will be intensified to ensure all boat operators have valid licences. Additionally, controls over high-risk activities such as diving at Sipadan Island will be tightened, with minimum experience requirements introduced as a safety measure,” he said.
Jafry also said the Ministry will increase enforcement to prevent the sale of protected wildlife and exotic foods, including turtles and pangolins, to tourists.
He added that long-term proposals, such as relocating settlements, are under review to create a cleaner, safer, and more organised tourism environment.
“These actions are not just to clean up the industry, but to send a clear message that Sabah is serious about safeguarding tourist safety and the sustainability of our tourism industry,” he said.
