Sabah tourism players seek package tour subsidies

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism stakeholders in Sabah have called on the government to implement targeted package tour subsidies ahead of Visit Sabah Year 2027. The subsidies aim to alleviate the burden of airfare costs between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Officials argue that a focused approach would protect package tour expenses without broadly subsidising airfares, ensuring assistance reaches the operators that attract visitors to the state.

The stakeholders also requested closer collaboration with the Sabah Water Department, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, and other authorities to alert hotel operators about potential water supply disruptions. Recent incidents have affected at least ten hotels in Kota Kinabalu. They called for long-term planning regarding fuel pricing and suggested including licensed tourism transport operators in the subsidised diesel control system.

Authorities were urged to enforce stricter regulations against illegal van operations, which can undercut the tourism industry by using Budi diesel designated for other purposes. At least one case involved the unauthorized use of a 400-litre Budi diesel allocation. Licensing and local authorities were urged to regulate the surge of unlicensed short-term rental accommodations, which has become widespread across Sabah. The goal is to ensure visitor safety and maintain confidence in the region.