Christina wants wellrounded Sabah tourism devt

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew wants to ensure a well-rounded development of the tourism industry in Sabah.

Liew, who is also in charge of the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, said this would eventually address the shortage of hotel rooms in Kota Kinabalu, especially when there is an influx of tourists.

“Tourism cannot be confined to Kota Kinabalu alone. We need to move forward by developing the whole of Sabah (in tourism),” she told reporters after visiting a Ramadan bazaar at Lintasan Deasoka yesterday.

Liew also hoped tourism in areas such as Tawau should be promoted and developed further so that tourists could make full use of the district as a transit to Semporna.

She said tourists could stay a day or two visiting Tawau before making their journey to Semporna, which is popular among avid divers and marine life enthusiasts.

Asked on the deaths of six Borneo pygmy elephants early last month, Liew said her ministry would work out a short and long term approach to ensure the safety of Sabah’s wildlife.

She said this included increasing manpower to carry out enforcement activities, giving rewards to witnesses for information on illegal activities, and engaging a consultant to research and report on best ways to manage and protect wildlife. - Bernama