Sabah should strive to attract big-spending tourists, says Bersatu leader

A SABAH Bersatu leader has urged the state to review its tourism strategies to woo big-spending tourists.

Sabah Wanita Bersatu chief Rahimah Majid said Sabah should not settle only with the continuous influx of budget travellers at present, adding that budget tourists will not be beneficial for Sabah in the long run.

“Instead of being content with the influx of budget travellers, we should strive to attract high-quality tourists who are willing to spend money to experience our beautiful nature, diverse culture, and warm hospitality,” she said in Kota Kinabalu.

She said brainstorming sessions with key stakeholders from the tourism industry must be held to identify shortcomings and issues facing the sector.

For instance, the poor hygiene practices of local operators, lack of amenities at tourist spots, power failures at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, poor road conditions leading to Mount Kinabalu, and inadequate safety standards were among the negative factors.

She also said there had already been cases of fatalities involving tourists recently.

“We should upgrade existing facilities and amenities at tourist destinations to attract wealthy tourists willing to pay a premium price for our nature, culture, and cuisines. This will also help safeguard and preserve our environment for posterity,” she added.

Rahimah, who is former chairman of the Malaysian Cocoa Board, said countries like Bhutan, New Zealand, the Caribbean Cayman Islands, Fiji, Iceland, the Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand had already shifted their focus in attracting high-quality and high-value tourists after the Covid-19 pandemic.

For instance, the Cayman Islands has already introduced the Cayman Islands Global Citizen Concierge Programme targeting remote workers, while Fiji is positioning itself as a retreat for billionaires.

Additionally, she mentioned Thailand's new 10-year work visa aimed at high-earning digital nomads, emphasising these countries’ efforts to combat overtourism and protect the environment.

Sabah, meanwhile, is relaxing its Malaysia MySecond Home Programme (MM2H) to stimulate its property market.

In the yet-to-be-introduced Sabah MM2H, the state may lower the fixed deposit to RM200,000 and property purchase eligibility to RM600,000.

The initial requirements were RM1.5 million as a fixed deposit and RM1 million for property. – The Vibes, April 7, 2024