KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Japan’s Foreign Ministry has lowered its travel advisory level for several parts of eastern Sabah, following improvements in the security situation, according to a Japanese travel-related media outlet.
Japan has lowered its travel advisory level for islands off eastern Sabah, excluding Banggi Island, Balambangan Island and several others, from Level 3, which advises against all travel, to Level 2, which advises against non-essential travel, Traicy reported, citing the ministry's advisory.
The advisory level for coastal areas from Kudat to Tawau, including Banggi Island, Balambangan Island and other areas, was also lowered from Level 2 to Level 1, under which travellers are advised to exercise caution.
The report said the advisory level for the area was raised in July 2014 following a series of kidnapping-for-ransom incidents involving foreigners, including threats linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group in the southern Philippines.
However, it noted that no kidnapping-for-ransom cases had been reported since January 2020 and that security in the area had improved.
For the coastal areas, the advisory level had earlier been raised following the March 2013 incursion by an armed group calling itself the "Royal Sulu Army” but Japan’s Foreign Ministry noted that the security situation had stabilised in recent years, with violent incidents remaining low.
The ministry also advised travellers to check the latest travel advisory information for neighbouring countries, including Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. -- Bernama
