Tourism initiatives targeted at 7.5% economic growth
KOTA KINABALU: Initiatives towards sustainability of the tourism industry is targeted at economic growth of up to 7.5 per cent, under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2021-2025 Development Plan.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arrifin said the plan illustrated initiatives towards making the tourism industry more sustainable, which is in turn aimed at up to 6.5 per cent economic growth, and even up to 7.5 per cent.
“The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry under the state government will work harder with the plans outlined in the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan, which focuses on agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, human resource and people's wellbeing, as well as infrastructure and green sustainability. From this initiative, I hope we are able to create a procedure or guideline to help us achieve sustainability for the tourism industry in Sabah,” said Jafry.
He said this in conjunction with the state-level World Wildlife Day 2021 celebration. Jafry expressed hope that the sustainability initiatives would also aid in human resource development as well as modernising the livestock sector.
With the World Wildlife Day 2021 theme 'Forest and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet,' it is hoped that the celebration would increase awareness on the importance of the ecosystem as well as wildlife to the livelihood of the local community, Jafry added.
"The tourism industry in particular has been deeply affected by Covid-19. Since the state relies heavily on the environment and wildlife as tourism products, we must continue with public awareness programmes and protect the environment as well as wildlife in Sabah.
"We were recently shocked with the African Swine Fever (AFS) outbreak in Sabah. This has directly affected the economy of pig farming, including the population of wild boar in the state.
“With the population of wild boar compromised, it also affects the forest ecosystem. However, I am confident in the expertise and cooperation of responsible agencies to address the problem, namely the Wildlife Department, to control the spread of the outbreak, thus improving the situation,” said Jafry.
Several programmes had been planned for the state-level celebration of World Wildlife Day 2021, such as online poster drawing contest, short video and photography contest, as well as a casual discussion on 'Importance of Ecosystem and Wildlife in Livestock Industry,' in line with the theme of this year's celebration.