KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is expected to make changes in promoting tourism, including market shifting, in an effort to recover the state's hardest-hit industry.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the Sabah Tourism Recovery Plan for domestic and international segments would be put in place once the pandemic subsides.
"We are looking at the bright side and hoping that the recovery plan can be put in place without a hitch by year-end or next year," she said after chairing a meeting on the matter with heads of departments under her ministry, yesterday.
The departments are Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Museum Department and Environment Protection Department.
Liew said the Ministry's permanent secretary Dr Jamili Nais, his deputy Mariam Omar Matusin and principal assistant secretary Principal Mary Malangking would be spearheading the efforts in formulating the tourism recovery plan.
"For a start, we will apply to the Ministry of Finance for allocations to upgrade and improve our existing tourism products, including infrastructure and maintenance of all our facilities.
"Once the Movement Control Order (MCO) is lifted, we expect to begin improving the Sabah Cultural Centre building, the Poring Hotspring chalets, Petagas Memorial Hall and the Tawau Hills Park," said Liew.
She also said the focus on international tourism would be shifted from mass tourism to high-yield, upmarket segment for maximum returns.
The meeting also proposed a 50 per cent discount for entrance fees at Lok Kari Wildlife Park, State Museum, and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park to encourage locals to visit Sabah's tourist attractions after the MCO.
Liew also urged Sabah Museum director Arif Abdul Hamid to push for the establishment of the proposed Natural History Museum, which is expected to add value to the state tourism, with terms to be agreed upon between the Federal Museum Department and state government.
The Sabah Wildlife Department will be overseeing maintenance of places of attraction and also look into the development of the proposed Elephant Food Corridor in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.
On conservation tourism, Sabah Parks will implement coral reef re-generation works during the MCO period while coral planting project at Simpang Mengayau would start after MCO.
Liew stressed that STB would continue to engage with local and international stakeholders, and she would also be chairing a meeting to obtain input and constructive suggestions from industry players in an effort to revive tourism.