Kota Kinabalu: Island tour operators serving Tunku Abdul Rahman Park are calling on the Sabah Government to implement two key measures – a special fuel subsidy and the use of only one dedicated jetty for tourism activities – as they struggle to stay in business amid economic challenges triggered by conflicts thousands of kilometres away.
Industry players stated that these interventions are urgently required to save their businesses, protect thousands of local jobs, and preserve Sabah’s standing as a leading tourist destination.
The operator’s appeal comes as the ongoing conflict involving America, Israel and Iran continues to disrupt global markets and travel patterns, hitting their operations particularly hard.
As the backbone of the state’s tourism sector, operators revealed that they are facing massive losses, with many at risk of closing down permanently if assistance does not arrive quickly.
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