KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism Board hosted a feedback session with the state’s tourism players on Friday to address operational challenges arising from fuel supply constraints and the need for temporary subsidies.
STB Chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, led the session to gather feedback and proposals to present to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, and subsequently the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
The session focused on the fuel crisis and its impact on tourism operators running island resorts, boat transfer services, and inland eco-tourism operations.
Operators reliant on diesel for generators and daily boat transfers said repeated applications for fuel subsidies have been unsuccessful despite multiple submissions.
Several operators said they are currently absorbing higher fuel costs to honour existing bookings made before recent price increases, limiting their ability to adjust package pricing.
(Source: Sabah Tourism Board)
