Christina Liew
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 17): Sabah’s booming tourism industry is set to scale new heights with the State government’s continuing emphasis on this lucrative economic sector, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
She said this bright prospect was reflected in the 2025 Sabah Budget as unveiled by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun last Friday.
She was commenting on Masidi’s assertion that the Sabah Government is focusing on three key sectors – agriculture, industrial development and tourism – to drive the State’s economic growth through the Budget.
“Undoubtedly, the flourishing tourism sector is the ‘cash cow’ for Sabah with instant monetary returns. I welcome the allocation of RM102.87 million to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for its operational purposes and the implementation of various programmes and development projects.
“Of the figure, RM10.84 million will be utilised for the development of tourism assets, including RM6.5 million for the Rural Tourism Development Project focusing on eco-tourism and community-based tourism,” Liew said in a statement on Sunday.
She also acknowledged the allocation of RM19.8 million to the Sabah Museum Department for operational expenditure and upgrading of heritage infrastructure for tourism purposes.
“This is in recognition of the fact that efforts to elevate the State’s cultural treasures and ethnic heritage contribute to making these tourism products one of the favourite choices of tourists.”
The Tourism Minister noted that an additional RM13.66 million has been earmarked for the continuity and preservation of the State’s arts and cultural heritage for the present generation.
Liew hailed the impending move to list various cultural programmes, including Museum Festival 2025, Exotic Crafts and Regatta Lepa Festival in the State’s tourism calendar next year.
This step, she said, is to further empower the local tourism sector.
Liew concurred that this proactive approach can raise the competitiveness of community-based tourism, saying this is an effective method to distribute the revenue generated by the industry in a more inclusive and equitable manner.
“Towards this end, I can foresee a flurry of activity involving craft entrepreneurs and handicraft makers as well as boat makers, among other stakeholders,” she added.
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