SEMPORNA: Some local tourism players will have to persevere through difficult times as they are unable to travel and inspect their homestays.
Semporna Bumiputra Tourism Association chairman Karino Jelani said many local homestays were situated on islands off the mainland; and with the current Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) imposed on the whole of Sabah, homestay owners are unable to go the islands without permission from the authorities.
He said the association has 12 registered local tourism companies that are affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and CMCO.
"I operate two homestays on Pulau Mabul and another two homestays on Pulau Bum-Bum. I cannot simply go and check on the homestays. Even with a permission letter, it is only to send food supplies.
"The boat schedule is restricted, too. Even islanders cannot simply leave the islands and move around as they please," he said, adding that he hired islanders to look after his homestays.
Karino forecasted the downturn in tourism sector to continue until year's end if Covid-19 cases continue to spike. The CMCO was imposed on Sabah from Oct 13-26.
The National Security Council (NSC) issued the standard operating procedures (SOP) for Sabah's CMCO yesterday, including details on movements in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) waters.
Among other things, the SOPs state that boat movements from islands within the Esszone waters to the mainland is allowed only between 6am and 2pm.
Residents are only allowed to go out to buy food and necessities. Only fishing boats and boats transporting fish that are registered with the Fisheries Department are allowed movement between 6am to 6pm.
These, however, are subjected to permits issued by the district police chief.
The SOPs also state that movement of all non-conventional ships from Indonesia and the Philippines in Esszone for purposes of barter trade as well as transhipment is not permitted.
Semporna is among 10 districts within Esszone. The others are Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Tawau.
The NSC's SOPs also state that throughout the CMCO, entry into Sabah by land, sea, and air is restricted only to Malaysian citizens who are from Sabah; for those residing in the Peninsula, Sarawak, and Labuan with passes issued by Immigration department; and, a spouse who is carrying out essential services.
Travelers are required to get special permission from the state government to enter Sabah and all individuals must show their RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) test result with a negative status three days prior to entering the state.
Other activities prohibited during the CMCO include restaurant dine-ins; religious activities; physical meetings; gatherings; cultural, social, recreational and sports activities; education; and, seminars.