TAWAU: The district is in for some major changes as efforts to develop tourism industry in the state will not be concentrated in a few major areas such as Mount Kinabalu or Sipadan island but the whole of Sabah in line with the increasing number of tourist arrivals, especially from China.
Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew said effort should be put into the venture to promote other places and to make the state a holistic tourist destination.
She said Tawau should no longer label itself as a transit point but capitalize on getting tourists visiting nearby Semporna to stay there as part of the tour.
“I am looking for a plan to set up a cultural market in the district which will be part of the tourism attraction apart from what we already have,” she said.
Christina, who is also the state’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the market concept will introduce the various cultures and she will discuss the matter with the district municipal council’s president soon.
“At the same time I am going to meet up with tourism operators around the state to see if Sabah as a whole can be made as a tourism venue,” she added.
Christina however stressed that beautification and setting up of infrastructures to accommodate tourists is needed if the effort is implemented.
She said both the district and Sandakan have the attractions needed to lure in tourists but additional infrastructures such as hotels, chalets and other forms of accommodation are lacking.