Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew and STB chief executive officer Julinus Jimit showing the Careline Chatbot that offers at-the-fingertip information.
KOTA KINABALU: A digital tool has been specially designed by Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to provide tourists with round-the-clock access to essential information and support.
Dubbed Careline Chatbot, it can be downloaded from a QR code that is available at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, as well as tourist spots, or from the STB website.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said this initiative represents a significant leap forward in STB’s efforts to improve communication, service quality, and safety for visitors to the region.
The Careline Chatbot is a key part of the board’s strategy to create a safer and more convenient environment for tourists.
Available 24/7, the chatbot serves as a reliable source of information, addressing common inquiries, offering guidance, and providing vital contact details for local authorities in case of emergencies.
"The introduction of the Careline Chatbot is a significant step forward in our mission to leverage technology to improve the tourist experience in Sabah.
"This tool provides tourists with the information they need at their fingertips.
"It reflects our commitment to innovation, excellence, and most importantly, safety,” said Liew.
Liew also touched on the importance of upholding safety standards through the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), expressing concern over the recent increase in tourist-related accidents, some of which have resulted in fatalities, and underscored the need for proper guidelines and instructions for both tourists and tour guides.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew (third left) launching the Careline Chatbot, while STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (right) and chief executive officer Julinus Jimit (left), look on.
“Sometimes reports revealed that no proper instructions were given (to tourists), or sometimes the tourists themselves get very excited when they see the water, and jump into the water without wearing life jackets,” said Liew, naming some incidents.
She also blamed tour guides for failing to advise their guests accordingly.
“So because of this, we decided to come up with a SOP.
"The SOPs are crucial for ensuring the safety of tourists in various activities, from mountain climbing to sea diving.
We need to guide our visitors on what to do and what not to do, and it’s essential that our tour guides are well-equipped to provide this guidance," Liew said.
Speaking at the Careline Chatbot launch held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, on Thursday (Aug 1), she added that the implementation of these SOPs will be closely monitored to assess its effectiveness in reducing incidents.
At the event, a live demonstration of the Careline Chatbot was conducted to showcase its features and functionality to stakeholders.
The Careline Chatbot, which is currently available in four languages, namely English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the overall tourist experience in Sabah.
Meanwhile, STB chief executive officer Julinus Jimit said that the Careline Chatbot is backed by a dedicated team ready to provide human assistance whenever needed.
"Before we launched the chatbot, we had a system in place where team members took turns to manage calls 24/7. This commitment will continue, ensuring that tourists can always reach someone for help, even beyond the chatbot’s capabilities."
Also present was STB chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
