Activist: 1.1% tourism growth pathetic

Sabah tourism players have blamed the state government’s “shoddy planning” for the industry’s dismal growth.

KOTA KINABALU: Popular rapper Atama Katama has slammed the state government for being unimaginative in building up the state’s tourism value.

He said the paltry 1.1 per cent growth of the tourism industry in the state last year was a reflection of this.

“Unfortunately it is proven that we are still the same as the year of 2011,” the civil rights and culture activist whose real name is Andrew Ambrose said in a statement.

Questioning boasts by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun that tourism to the state had increased by 1.1 per cent in 2012, he said this was “still way below par”.

“The growth of 1.1 per cent shows that the government still lacks the ‘X-factor’ in making Sabah a good tourism destination. It is just unsatisfactory,” said the singer songwriter, who is also an activist from the KDM (Kadazan Dusun and Murut) Film and Music Activist Association.

Ambrose, a civil rights activist who is being sued by former state attorney general Herman Luping for questioning his competence in the on-going royal inquiry into the immigrant problem faced by Sabah, also took a swipe on Masidi and his ministry for the numerous press statements over the years, claiming that Sabah can become the “next Bali” or the “biggest destination in south east Asia” or “can compete with the best”.

“We need a full explanation from the minister on why the achievement for 2012 is only 1.1 per cent.

“Masidi must also explain to the public what specifically contributed to the 1.1 per cent growth, whether it was from retailing, food and beverages, tour, culture and art, or others,” he stressed.

He added that Masidi must also explain how much the government has spent to achieve such this growth as taxpayers have the right to know where the tourism industry is heading given its growth potential.

“Today’s society is no longer ignorant. They are demanding transparency and accountability. Therefore, Masidi must set an example of good practice on behalf of the government and explain the lack luster growth.

“For us in KDMFAA or Kadazan Dusun Music & Film Activist Association, we want a formal explanation and the statistics from his ministry on how much local content such as music albums, tele-movies and films were promoted and retailed to the 2.875 million tourists in 2012.

“We want to know what effective effort the ministry has taken to boost creative economics,” he said.

Shoddy planning

While thanking national broadcaster, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), for interacting with local producers and filmmakers and providing Sabah productions air time, he urged the state government to recognise KDMFM’s objectives and expertise in building the state’s tourism industry especially through film and television programmes.

“This year RTM has allocated more than 60 television programmes with Sabahan content ranging from drama, game shows, music TV, documentaries, mini series and tele-movies. These content can directly and indirectly impact on tourism industry in Sabah.

“The tourism industry and the minister himself should give recognition when recognition is due and open a ‘new page’ for our sector to be a ‘new player” in the state tourism industry,” he said, reminding how the ministry had once rejected their offer of assistance a few years ago.

Tourism in the state, which is endowed with multiple natural attractions, has yet to establish itself, according to those in the industry mainly because of shoddy planning.

“It is all poorly marketed and disorganised. The prices asked from tourists are exorbitant and what is delivered is inferior to what one can get in neighbouring countries,” said a businessman who requested anonymity as he feared he would face bureaucratic delays running his business if he spoke out openly.

“Many of the places are dirty and unhygienic and our City Hall and government do not do anything to improve our image. They charge those in the industry steep fees but their own contribution in return is minimal,” he said.

He like others in the industry have lamented that Sabah’s tourism planning is non-existent.

One former tourism industry player who blogs under the name Vidal Yudin Weil has commented that the sector is “decomposing” and “our hotspots are stale and expensive” when compared to famed seaside destinations in Thailand.

Ironically Sabah also has beaches and much more although most of these are far from pristine, a quality that tourists especially from the west insist on.

Weil goes on to lament in his blog: “Quality tourists are flocking to our neighbours in the region instead of us. Many tour operators including the established players have already closed down with many more on the way.”