KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s newly appointed Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin and his assistant minister Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal have pledged to work as a team to strengthen and expand the state’s tourism industry.
Jafry said the commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy call by Dr Andi at his office on Thursday (Dec 4).
Jafry, who is from Barisan Nasional, and Dr Andi, a former Lahad Datu Hospital director from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, said their cooperation demonstrated their shared focus on Sabah’s development despite coming from parties that were once political rivals.
“This meeting affirms our commitment to working together to bring positive developments across all tourism-related sectors in Sabah,” Jafry said in a statement following the visit.
He added that both sides stressed the importance of stronger coordination at all levels of the ministry to ensure that policies, promotional programmes and activities are implemented smoothly, efficiently and swiftly.
According to Jafry, discussions also focused on three key pillars that would form the backbone of Sabah’s tourism image: diversification of tourism products, data-driven marketing strategies and environmental conservation.
“These elements are crucial to ensure that Sabah’s tourism industry grows into a competitive, sustainable and globally recognised sector,” he said.
Jafry added that their close working relationship would help ensure Sabah remains competitive in the region while positioning tourism as a key economic multiplier that creates jobs, boosts local businesses and elevates the state’s cultural identity on the world stage.
Both leaders also agreed to streamline policies through a special task force, with emphasis on improving infrastructure, enhancing workforce training and intensifying digital promotional efforts.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that Sabah’s tourism sector continues to grow and delivers maximum impact to industry players and the people of Sabah,” Jafry said.
