KOTA KINABALU: The Semporna Bumiputera Tour Operators Association is appealing to the authorities to allocate some Sipadan island permits to local operators.
At the moment, 12 big companies are given a quota of 120 daily permits to take tourists to the island.
The association’s chairman, Kerino Jalani, said eight local companies were applying for those permits.
“I would like to request that the number of permits given to the 12 companies be reduced so that the remaining permits can be given to local operators,” he told the New Straits Times.
“This issue has been raised since 2005. I hope local operators will be given a chance.”
Kerino said he hoped that the new government would help local operators by granting permits to them.