Errant tour operators to lose licences
Tour operators in Mantanani Island will get their licences revoked if they fail to comply with instruc ons from the Emergency Response Team, said Director of Sabah Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar.
KOTA KINABALU: Tour operators in Mantanani Island will get their licences revoked if they fail to comply with instructions from the Emergency Response Team (ERT), said Director of Sabah Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC), Ag Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar.
“We have improved our system of operation (SOP) to ensure the safety of tourists who come to Mantanani Island, of which ERT is one of them.
“If accidents happen due to their negligence towards the order, we will bring the matter to the Safety and Health Department. We will cancel the operator’s license immediately even though they only get a minimum compound of RM500 if they are found guilty,” he explained during the Installation Art By The Bay @ KK 2016 yesterday.
He said that the ERT, which is led by Sabah Tourism Association president Tony Chew, will decide whether tour operators could continue with sea activities based on the current weather and that it was compulsory for operators to cease their sea activities when instructed by the ERT.
“Tour operators who are found using illegal jetties which cause accidents will also have their license revoked,” he said.
In addition, Ahmad Zaki also said that the tour operators should have global positioning system (GPS) and flare gun.
Meanwhile, Tony disclosed that there are currently 15 tour operator boats on the island and new operators are also encouraged to comply with the ERT.
The Installation Art event was the third edition featured on the wooden boardwalk at Segama Waterfront here yesterday. Previously, the program was held at Tanjung Aru and Tanjung Lipat here.
The program was organized by MOTAC in collaboration with Sabah Tourist Association/ Borneo Excursions, Persatuan Pelukis Seni Visual KK (PSVS), Balai Seni Lukis Sabah (BSLS) and City Hall (DBKK).
Ahmad Zaki said that the event is an added value to tourism in Sabah and is able to attract tourists to witness the art in progress for themselves.
“There are 14 teams involved in producing the installations that reuse and recycle available resources to create attractive 3D art installations,” he said.
He also said that the program is important to create awareness among the people towards the importance of caring and protecting wildlife as well as the environment.