KOTA KINABALU: Local entertainer and activist, Atama Katama, yesterday described the tourism sector’s RM5.17 billion contribution to Sabah’s revenue last year as unsatisfactory.
He said that while many welcomed the statement by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun of its billion mark, the 1.1 per cent increase in tourism for 2012 was still way below par.
“The growth of 1.1 per cent shows that the government still lacks the x-factor in making Sabah a good tourism destination. It is just unsatisfactory,” said Atama, who is also with the KDM Film & Music Activist Association.
He added that the numerous press statements and endorsements made over the past years by the ministry and the industry boasting that Sabah can become the ‘next Bali’ or the ‘biggest destination in South East Asia’ or ‘can compete with the best, but unfortunately, as he put it: “It is proven that we are still the same as last year’s 2011.”
Therefore, he said there is a need for full explanation from the minister on why the achievement for 2012 was only 1.1 per cent closer to those bold statements.
Masidi must also inform the public how much of taxpayers’ money has the government spent just to achieve only 1.1 per cent growth, what specifically contributed to the 1.1 per cent growth, whether it was from retailing, food and beverages, tour, culture and art, or others.
Atama said Sabahans have the right to know where the tourism industry is going to and why there is room for improvement.
“Today’s society is no longer ignorant of economics and has begun to demand transparency and accountability.
“Therefore, Masidi must set an example of good practices on behalf of the government and explain the lacklustre growth.
“For us in KDMFM or Kadazan Dusun Music & Film Activist Association, we want a formal explanation and the statistics from him and his ministry on how much local contents such as music albums, telemovies and films were promoted and retailed to the 2.875 million tourists in 2012?
“We want to know what effective effort by the ministry was done to boost creative economics,” he said.
As a cultural creative industry activist association, they would also want the state government to firstly recognise their mission objectives, visions and production expertise before we begin to work with the state government, particularly the tourism ministry to help Sabah achieve more than only 1.1 per cent growth through our filming and television programme slots.
KDMFM wishes to recognise the good practices of Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for finding solutions between local producers and filmmakers and the government-run stations TV1, TV2 and Tvi.
“This year 2013, RTM has allocated more than 60 television programmes for Sabahan content creators ranging from drama, game shows, music TV, documentaries, mini series and telemovies. These contents can directly and indirectly impact tourism in Sabah.
“The tourism industry and the minister himself should give recognition when recognition is due and open a ‘new page’ for our sector to be a ‘new player” in the state tourism industry. Whether we welcome it or not depends on his sincerity because he turned us away when we offered our assistance a few years ago,” said Atama.