SANDAKAN: Sandakan has the tourism products, natural attractions, history and unique local identity to become one of Sabah’s major tourism destinations, but LDP Vice President Chong Thien Ming warns its potential will remain underdeveloped without a more serious and coordinated government approach to promotion, connectivity and infrastructure.
He urged the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (Motac) to jointly formulate a long-term tourism blueprint covering promotion, infrastructure, air connectivity, international marketing and industry readiness.
Chong said Sandakan should not merely be a stopover for visitors to Sepilok. Instead, it must become a destination where tourists stay longer, spend more and experience the city and its surrounding areas. The relatively slow growth of foreign arrivals from key Asian markets such as China, Taiwan, Singapore and other regional countries should prompt authorities to reassess how Sandakan is marketed and promoted.
“We have the products, but the question is whether we are promoting them aggressively and strategically enough,” he said.
He stressed that stronger direct domestic and international air connectivity must be part of any serious strategy to develop Sandakan as a tourism hub. This includes encouraging more direct flights between Sandakan and major Malaysian cities as well as selected international destinations, particularly markets in China, Taiwan, Singapore and other parts of Asia.
Better flight connectivity would benefit not only tourism but also Sandakan’s business community, hotels, restaurants, transport operators and other local sectors. If tourists must make multiple connections before reaching Sandakan, some may choose easier destinations instead, Chong warned. He said the government, Sabah Tourism Board, airport authorities and airlines should work together to explore and encourage more direct routes.
Chong emphasised that tourism promotion and increased flights must go hand in hand with proper preparation by local tourism players and the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS). Hotels must have sufficient rooms and proper standards, transport operators must have adequate capacity, and restaurants must be upgraded where necessary to provide a comfortable, quality experience for visitors.
Tourist attractions, he added, must also be properly maintained, upgraded and made visitor-friendly. This includes ensuring they are clean, safe and well maintained, with adequate public toilets, signage, parking facilities, lighting, waste management and proper tourist information centres where visitors can obtain details on attractions, transport, accommodation, food, heritage sites and activities.
He stressed that MPS has a crucial role in preparing the city for tourism growth. Tourists will judge Sandakan not only by Sepilok or its natural attractions, but also by what they see on entering the city — its streets, cleanliness, public facilities, restaurants, public toilets, markets, heritage areas and overall experience. – James Leong
‘We have the products, but the question is whether we are promoting them aggressively and strategically enough’ – Chong
