KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is working closely with the police and other authorities to tackle unlicensed tour operators in Semporna.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, said the ministry has established a helpline for tourists to alert the authorities. The ministry, she said, is also conducting joint patrols with the police in tourist areas.
"We have repeatedly warned tourist associations not to use unlicensed foreign tour guides.
"Foreigners wishing to work here must obtain the necessary work permits through the proper channels," she said at the state legislative assembly sitting here today.
She was responding to a question from Senallang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who had asked about measures taken to handle problems such as illegal tour guides, work permits, and foreign nationals running restaurants.
Shafie said he received complaints that tourists from China had come to Semporna to work as dive masters, open restaurants, and even purchase land.
Liew said the ministry would not allow foreigners to run restaurants if they do not have any permits.
"The issuance of tour guide licences remains an issue, requiring further discussion with the federal tourism ministry," she said.
Meanwhile, Liew also fielded a question from Silam assemblyman Dumi Pg Masdal on the state's tourism numbers from 2000 to 2023.
She said that in 2000, Sabah recorded 774,475 arrivals, including 365,537 domestic and 408,938 international visitors.
She said at the time, Sabah was served by 173 weekly flights, connecting to seven domestic destinations in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
"By the end of 2000, Sabah was linked to nine international destinations via 55 weekly flights, maintaining a total passenger capacity of 21,135," she said,
She said by 2010, visitor numbers had increased to 2,504,669, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 22.3 per cent.
In 2019, the state saw its highest visitor count with 4,195,903 arrivals — comprising 2,726,428 domestic and 1,469,475 international visitors — over five times the number recorded in 2000.
"However, the Covid-19 pandemic severely affected the tourism sector, with visitor numbers plummeting to 977,460 in 2020, a 77 per cent decrease.
"The decline persisted into 2021, with only 371,187 visitors recorded, nearly the same level as in 1997," said Liew.
The sector began to recover with the reopening of international borders in April 2022, leading to 1,727,740 visitor arrivals.
In 2023, Sabah welcomed 2,613,272 visitors, marking a 51 per cent increase from the previous year.