KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s hopes for tourism revival will just have to wait until foreign nations decide to open their international borders, said state Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun as the state government faces calls to hasten the reopening of international borders.
Masidi, who is also the state local government and housing minister, said that Sabah would look awkward if it reopens borders first when many countries are still restricting travel.
“If we open our borders just because some people want it, that would put us in an awkward position. Other nations are still not prepared to do so. Even if we do open, what is the guarantee that international tourists would come, as many countries are still restricting travel?
“So, I appeal to everyone to be patient. I am aware our tourism industry has been severely affected by the pandemic. We should not hastily open our borders and increase the risk of spreading Covid-19. This is not a tourism issue, but a universal health problem.
“We have to look at this matter from a global point of view. Many other countries are not opening up their borders anyway,” he told reporters at an aid-giving ceremony at Menara Kinabalu here today.
Manjun reiterated his call for the tourism sector to focus on domestic tourism, saying it has a RM2 billion potential.
The Karanaan assemblyman also opined that countries should establish a standard protocol to allow international travel but insisted that the opening of borders should not be done in haste.
Earlier today, a group of about 18 industry and business non-governmental groups urged the state government to reopen international travel to revive the local tourism sector.
The NGOs include Sabah China Chamber of Commerce, Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta), Sabah Tourist Guides Association and others.
Satta president Datuk Winston Liaw said international borders can be reopened as long as the SOPs are maintained.
Furthermore, Liaw said the endemic stage would start soon and the population is already close to 90% fully vaccinated, and therefore, the state should be allowed to open its international borders.
“It is time now to reopen international borders for some countries. We can do so via the Vaccinated Travel Lane system.
“Perhaps with Singapore, Shenzen (China), Seoul (South Korea) and Taipei which is a point-to-point easy to control,” said Liaw, adding that work should start now.
Tourism is the only sector that hires mostly Sabahans, other than the two main state sectors – industry and agriculture, he said.
Liaw said the state should take steps now for the opening of international borders such as setting up the SOPs and discussing with nations on travel guidelines if Sabah aims to allow entry of foreigners sometime in March or April.
He said the spending power of domestic tourists is still very minimal compared to foreigners who are willing to spend money.
There is also a call for the state to improve the quarantine centres as part of dealing with the possibility of infections.
It was said that those instructed to undergo self-isolation at the local quarantine centres had to experience dirty and unorganised conditions. – The Vibes, January 19, 2022
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