Smart jet boats boost for Sabah tourism

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to attract more tourists as the State will be offering South East Asia’s first ever Smart Hero Jet Boat (SHJB).

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said the boat would be a treat for its visitors, especially to the adrenaline junkies who were looking for more adventure.

The introduction of the boat is in line with Masidi’s vision for Sabah, which is to create more tourism products for the state.

“We need to excite people. We need to give people more reasons to visit Sabah.

“Every year we want to believe that we have done something new, we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again.

“My ministry and I welcome the arrival of this jet boat to Sabah as a we are certain that it will be a good tourist attraction,” Masidi said at the launching ceremony of the SHJB at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort yesterday.

The SHJB is a leisure boat that travels at a really high speed (45 knot per hour) and it uses a jet pump, without a propeller.

Apart from that, the jet boat is also able to perform eye catching maneuvers such as the Nose Dive and a 360-degree Water Drift.

Masidi went on to stress that the boat was well equipped in terms of it safety features.

“Safety is paramount. The boat will only be allowed to operate outside the precinct of the Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman (TTAR) parks.

“Also, we will make sure that the operation of these jet boats will not endanger our marine life,” Masidi said.

He added that his ministry would be monitoring the operation of these jet boats from time to time.

The jet boat will be available daily from 8am to 5.30pm and it will be departing from the Shargri-La Tanjung Aru Resort’s Marina Jetty. Tickets will be priced at RM150 per head.

Also present at the event yesterday were Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Smart Hero Voyage (Malaysia) Managing Director John Chan.