Masidi launching the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Sabah Chapter yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Don’t panic, don’t be emotional, calm down and do business as usual.
This was the advice of Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun to players in the tourism industry each time an untoward incidence occurred in Sabah.
“Don’t become emotional to issues raised from time to time … in the past, after any (untoward) incidence occurred, it will be highlighted in the media. Members of the industry came forward to comment and that made things worse (for the industry),” he said at the launch of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sabah Chapter.
“We need to calm down. If you hold a high position in the industry, what you say will be analysed. If you highlight missing tourists, while this needs to be reported, you will immediately see cancellations,” he explained.
Hence, he urged all those involved to manage the issues that come up in the best way possible.
“Come what may, we should carry on business as usual. Let those who are tasked to do the job to do their work. For us in the industry, don’t pour fuel into the fire and frighten a lot of people,” he said.
Masidi went on to say that there had been untoward incidences happening in Sabah’s east coast.
“But you in the industry, don’t panic. It has huge impacts on arrivals,” he said.
He also urged those in the industry to stop telling the security forces what to do.
“Our problem is that we feel we are better than them.”
Two Spaniards, a China national and a Malaysian have been reported missing after setting out on a boat from Balambangan Island, Kudat to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau on Monday. Search for them entered the fourth day yesterday with no sign of the vessel they were using.
Masidi added that confidence from the Chinese market had been increasing and this was shown with higher arrival of Chinese tourists in January and February, this year, as compared to the same period last year.
“In February alone, there were 54 flights from China … tourists from Europe are also arriving,” he said.
Masidi attributed the renewed confidence to several factors, but cited that one of the major ones was because the industry did not panic.
The other factor was the improved overall situation in Sabah.
He pointed out that all countries in the world had their own problems and it was important not to panic.
Unfortunately, some people have the tendency of discussing “their problems” on social media, not just for one day but keep repeating themselves over and over again.
“If someone falls and breaks his leg, what can you do? Send him to the doctor and that is that. But some people keep nagging about it and then everyone is afraid to come to Sabah,” he said, citing an example of how inciting fear can adversely impact the industry.
He stressed that the tourism industry is the only one that is wholly run by the people of Sabah and that if those in the industry spoiled the market, a lot of Sabahans would be impacted and will lose their jobs.
“So shut your mouth if you have nothing better to say. If your statements contribute to tourists coming to Sabah, then open your mouth.”
Meanwhile, Matta Sabah Chapter chairman Robert Chong said they were expecting sales of between RM5 million and RM8 million during the event.
“We made the same amount last year…due to the economic situation faced, we hope to be able to maintain that same figure,” he said.
A total of 97 booths with 48 exhibitors are participating in this year’s Matta fair. They will be displaying their products, tour and travel packages.
Last year, Matta Fair Sabah recorded 114 booths with 42 exhibitors.