KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin says accommodation operators in Semporna that have not obtained operating licences are getting more time to resolve compliance issues.
“More than 100 tourism accommodation operators in the district had failed to obtain licences by the earlier March deadline,” he said on Saturday (April 18).
He said only 46 of 190 operating accommodations, including homestays, were licensed. He said unlicensed operators were still trying to resolve issues involving local authorities and other requirements.
He said the enforcement followed the formation of a task force in Semporna to address cleanliness problems and unlicensed accommodation operations in the district. He said Semporna was being used as a reference model for restructuring Sabah’s tourism industry, especially in licensing, tourist safety and infrastructure improvements.
Jafry said the ministry would take action against tour operators who did not comply with the law. He said the names of accommodation companies with permits would be published on the KePKAS website for reference.
On jetties, Jafry said only three main jetties were allowed for tourism operations: Bangau-Bangau Jetty, Seafest Jetty and Kapalai Resort Jetty.
“Illegal jetties would face action, including demolition, because proper tourist and operator registration was needed for security, administration and emergency response,” he said.
He said authorities were also focusing on unregistered boat crews, cleanliness in water villages, smuggling, illegal consumption of protected wildlife species and diver safety.
