KOTA KINABALU: Tourists should wear life jackets during all water activities out at sea.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew was commenting on a drowning incident here involving a tourist from China yesterday.
The 51-year-old man reportedly drowned in shallow waters between Pulau Sapi and Pulau Gaya.
"Our islands are popular holiday destinations for locals and tourists.
"This unfortunate incident at Beach A on Pulau Sapi is heart-wrenching and regrettable.
"We cannot afford to have holidays ending in tragedies as this could hurt Sabah's tourism industry," Liew said.
There were about 400 visitors and tourists on the island at the time of the incident.
Last October, a 26-year-old tourist from China was found drowned after he went missing while snorkelling off a resort in Semporna.
Liew said: "Wearing a life jacket at sea is a necessity to avoid any misadventure. Taking safety measures is for your own good.
"Refrain from taking the risk even if you are good at swimming."
She said Sabah Parks, an agency under the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, might study whether there was a need to increase lifeguards on Sabah's islands frequented by locals and tourists.