KOTA KINABALU: An assemblyman here has called upon the state legislative assembly to help ensure that the Regatta Lepa does not lose its significance in Sabah.
The festival, held annually in Semporna, pays homage to the lepa – a traditional single-mast sailing boat of the state’s Bajau community.
There is concern among certain quarters that the event’s popularity is fading – as such, Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran (BN-Senallang), when debating the 2018 state budget on Monday, said it was time to review the programme’s content before it loses its appeal entirely.
"This state-level tourism event must be elevated to remain competitive as one of the main tourist attractions (in) Semporna," he added.
Nasir said that among aspects which need to be looked into is new infrastructure at the event’s various venues in the district, such as safe and attractive jetties.
"This is because jetties are not only for docking boats – (they) may also attract guests to the area," he reasoned.
Nasir also urged authorities to diversify tourism packages so that the industry is not monopolised by big players only; and to include rural folk as part of homestay programmes.