KKCCCI supports CM’s stand in opposing departure levy
Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui supports Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal’s stand in opposing the departure levy given that the tourism tax has been imposed.
He said this showed Shafie’s commitment to develop the State’s economy.
“We support the State Government’s stand in rejecting policies that could affect our thriving tourism industry,” Lui said, adding the tourism industry was the fasting growing sector in Sabah and the second largest source of revenue after agriculture, as well as a significant contributor to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said the industry had also created many business opportunities and jobs for locals.
According to Sabah Tourism Board (STB) statistics, Lui said tourist arrivals to the State in the first five months this year had reached 1.69 million, an increase of 9.7 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Of the number, international tourists comprised 589,850, an increase of 3.2 per cent or 98,076 tourists last year.
“Based on the figures, the imposition of departure levy will dampen the arrival of international tourists to Sabah.”
Additionally, Lui said the chamber would support Shafie in pursuing a reasonable sum of tourism tax earnings due to Sabah as the latter had pointed out that it was unreasonable for Sabah to be allocated merely RM12 million of the RM1 billion tourism tax revenue derived from the State.
He said Sabah must ensure the sustainable development of the tourism industry, which had become a main revenue generator for the State.
At the same time, he said more promotional efforts needed to be undertaken to woo more tourists.