A woman wades through floodwaters along a partially submerged boardwalk at a lodge in Bilit, Kinabatangan, as heavy flooding continues to disrupt tourism activities in the area.
KOTA KINABALU: Severe floods in Kinabatangan have brought tourism to a halt, forcing lodges to close and resulting in financial losses, cancellations and property damage.
Kinabatangan, known for its vast floodplains, the Kinabatangan River and rich biodiversity, is a top ecotourism destination in Sabah.
The village of Bilit, home to seven river lodges, is among the worst-hit areas, with businesses unable to operate because of rising water levels.
Lodge owners say they are facing unprecedented losses.
Bilit Adventure Lodge owner Johnny Lim, the vice president of the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association, described it as the worst flood in Bilit’s history.
"We have been operating for over 20 years, and this is the first time we have been forced to shut down like this.
"The boardwalks are submerged, and the water is almost knee-deep in some areas. It is unsafe for us to operate," he said on Monday (Feb 10).
Lim said January and February are usually a slow season but this year, there was a surge of tourists from China.
However, the opportunity was wasted as the floods forced tourist facilities to close.
"This was such a waste. We finally had a lot of guests coming in during a time that is usually quiet but had to close.
"Not only did (the tourists) miss out on experiencing Kinabatangan, but we also lost the chance to showcase what we have to offer," he said.
The floods impacted tourists who had planned river cruises and wildlife excursions.
Some accepted alternative activities like visiting the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary or the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), while others demanded refunds.
The situation worsened when the Kinabatangan district disaster management committee announced the temporary closure of the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit owing to rising water levels on Sunday (Feb 9).
“The water level in Kampung Bilit continues to rise. The road is already submerged and is impassable to small vehicles.
"Based on the monitoring team’s assessment and in the interest of public safety, the committee recommends that the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit be closed to all vehicles until conditions improve,” it said.
Lim urged the government to provide financial aid to help tourism operators recover.
"Three of my rooms are completely underwater, our staff quarters are damaged, and we will need a massive clean-up once the floods subside.
"We hope the government can provide financial aid, as repairs and recovery will be costly," he said.
It was reported earlier that tourists from Spain and New Zealand also expressed disappointment as their planned river cruises and jungle treks had to be cancelled.
Some also noted that wildlife sightings were affected, with animals moving to higher ground to escape the rising water.
Lim noted, however, that the river level appeared to be receding and was hopeful that his lodge would be ready to reopen within the week.
