By PAUL MU
muvitet@gmail.com
SEMPORNA: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sabah is supporting the State Government’s efforts to position Semporna as a model tourism district through closer cooperation with local tourism operators and communities.
Matta Sabah chairman Mohd Azlan Saleh Abd Salam said the association, together with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), is identifying suitable community-based tourism (CoBT) products in Semporna to be developed into sustainable tourism destinations.
The initiative also aims to help local water resort operators strengthen their tourism products and attract more visitors, said Azlan, who led Matta Sabah members on a three-day networking session and site visit programme in Semporna from May 20 to 22.
During the visit, members inspected 10 selected resorts, including Dayang Resort, Royal Resort, Danglai Resort, Sky Water Villas, Turtle Seaweed Resort and Maglami Resort.
The programme was aimed to strengthen collaboration between tourism stakeholders and local communities while assessing the readiness of island-based tourism products for sustainable tourism development.
The inspection also focused on infrastructure and hospitality standards.
Azlan said the effort reflects Matta Sabah’s commitment to supporting CoBT development in Semporna, particularly in empowering local operators and strengthening sustainable island tourism products.
Besides its water resorts, turquoise waters and world-class coral reefs, Matta Sabah also explored lesser-known tourism products in Semporna.
Members visited Panglima Resort on Bum Bum Island, which promotes kampungstay, and Razak Pakalangan Resort, which aims to develop a cultural village concept as part of efforts to introduce more cultural packages.
“At least with cultural packages, it will create more interest among tourists because we need to create a variety of products to sustain visitor interest in the long term.
“The communities themselves are determined to turn these places into cultural tourism areas,” he said.
He added that Matta Sabah was looking at ways to help local communities develop new ideas and experiences to strengthen tourism offerings in the villages.
Azlan also raised concerns over challenges faced by small resort operators, particularly in obtaining licences from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac).
He said the Sabah Government was assisting local operators in obtaining approvals under temporary occupation licences (TOL), which are still under assessment.
During the visit, Matta Sabah members also attended a networking dinner session with the Semporna Local Bumiputera Tourism Operators Association (Puspabumi), headed by chairman Mad Zafar Mad Zahala.
En route to Semporna, the group also visited the Akou Mamanau Sosodikon community-based tourism site and Perkasa Hotel Kundasang, where sales manager Mary Chey briefed them on the hotel’s newly refurbished facilities.
Matta Sabah members inspected Perkasa Hotel Kundasang with a view of Mount Kinabalu.
Matta Sabah members, STB and Puspabumi networking session
Azlan inspects Turtle Seaweed Resort.
Azlan (second left), presents a certificate to Sky Water Villas owner as Mad Zafar (second left), and Matta Sabah and Puspabumi members look on.
