Ministry approves formula for Sabah Parks fees
KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment has come up with a formula to ease the burden caused by the price hike for the Mount Kinabalu Climb permit fee and the entrance fee to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring, which was implemented on January 1 this year.
Announcing this, minister Datuk Christina Liew said her ministry had approved the formula after a meeting with the director of Sabah Parks, Dr Maklarin Lakim and his management team on Monday.
“We are giving a three-month grace period from October to December 2022 prior to implementation of the new fees. For paid reservations before January 1, 2023, we will still adopt the old rate. This is because packages had already been sold before the announcement of the increase in fees on October 26, 2022.
“However, all packages sold after January 1, 2023 will be based on the new rate,” she said in a statement on Wednesday, in response to public and media enquiries, and to appeals for consideration from the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta), Sabah/Labuan Chapter.
The move, Liew said, is to assist the local tour and travel agents as well as their clients.
Last week, a delegation from Matta, Sabah/Labuan Chapter led by Lawrence Chin raised the matter with the minister during a courtesy call.
With effect from Jan 1, Sabah Parks doubled its rates with the price of the climbing permit for foreign adults increased from RM200 to RM400, while Malaysians will now be charged RM100, up from RM50 before.
Meanwhile, foreign children under 12 years of age will be charged RM200, up from RM80, while Malaysian children will be charged RM50, up from the previous rate of RM30.
The cost for mountain guides has also been increased from RM230 to RM350.
The entrance fee into Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs was increased from RM3 per adult for locals to RM10, while adults for international visitors will be charged RM50 from RM10.
When announcing the new rates from Jan 1, Sabah Parks said that it was due to the higher maintenance cost of facilities.
The last increase was in 2015 following the earthquake on Mount Kinabalu.