Kinabatangan tourism is dependent on foreign visitors

Published on : Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Kinabatangan, a hotspot of Sabah wildlife, is currently keen on attracting domestic tourists to get going interstate travelling from tomorrow at the same time waiting for the international borders to reopen once again.

Alexander Yee, Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (KiTA) president, explained that Kinabatangan will get restricted travellers as the market traditionally a market geared for foreign tourists.

“So it’s really depending on the promotional packages offered and the appetite for the locals to visit us.”

“Individual lodges will do their own promotion. In fact, KiTA member lodges will attend the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair on Nov 20-21, Kuala Lumpur to promote their lodges,” said Alexander.

As Kinabatangan is mainly an international market, he mentioned that to encourage more domestic travelers to come will depend on the promotion they provide as the distant to Kinabatangan makes a tourism lodge quite expensive to operate.

“We have also produced a new promotional video, including the vaccination notice. This will ensure that our tourism attractions are showcased in the video.”

In addition to that, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be expounded on so that no one forgets.
“We are adhering to the Health Ministry SOPs that required all visitors to be fully vaccinated, maintain physical distancing and wear masks at all time.

“For the carrying capacity (of the lodges), we will follow whatever set by the Health Ministry and we will change accordingly (to instruction),” said Alexandar.