KOTA KINABALU: The recent Pom Pom Island murder-kidnap case involving a couple of Taiwanese tourists had a minimal impact on tourist arrivals in Sabah, according to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.
He said the State’s tourism sector has remained resilient despite various travel advisories from many countries advising their citizens against visiting Sabah.
He noted that the Ministry has not receive any report of cancellation of flights or travel packages to Sabah due to the incident so far. However, he said, precaution measures must be taken to dispel any wrong impression of foreign markets that Sabah is not safe for tourists.
“We will continue to provide regular travel updates to all the relevant parties concerned,” he said, adding that Ministry officials, including those from Sabah Tourism Board, will be meeting the ambassadors and high commissioners in Kuala Lumpur to explain the latest security-related development in Sabah.
Masidi, who was met after officiating at the launch of a book on traditional customs of ethnic communities in Sabah here yesterday, said this was part of the Ministry’s proactive measures to give accurate information and facts on the real situation in Sabah.
“Like I have always said, we are always open and transparent, and that we do not hide anything,” he said.
Asked if there were any reports or complaints received from the tourism operators in the East Coast following the incident, he said: “None so far, surprisingly, or happily I would say.”