SABAH Tourism Board is reassuring travellers that the state and nearby resort islands off Semporna are safe to visit, despite the murder of a Taiwanese tourist and abduction of his wife last Friday.
The tragic incident happened at Pom Pom Island Resort on Pom Pom Island, a 45-minute boat ride from the town of Semporna, Sabah.
In an advisory posted on the Sabah Tourism Board homepage, the bureau’s general manager and board director, Irene Benggon Charuruks, said: “Unfortunately and very sadly, on the early morning of Friday, November 15, 2013 at the popular Pom Pom Island Resort, a Taiwanese tourist male, age 57 years old, was found dead with gunshot wounds in the water villa where he and his wife were staying. His wife was missing and believed (to be) abducted…The police are probing and investigating the case as a criminal case, for murder and abduction.
“We wish to add that all other visitors on (Pom Pom Island Resort) are safe. They are not affected by the incident and continue with their holiday stay. We wish to assure that Sabah is safe to visit, including the resort islands off Semporna.”
Inbound tour operators contacted said that while there were no cancellations of tour packages to Sabah so far, it was still “too soon” to see an impact.
Ganneesh Ramaa, manager of Kuala Lumpur-based Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “The authorities will have to resolve the case as soon as possible. If it drags on, there will be negative coverage in the media and that might affect foreign tourist arrivals to Sabah, and recovery of the destination will take longer. Travellers from the Far East and European markets are very sensitive (to safety concerns).”
Manfred Kurz, managing director of Diethelm Travel Malaysia, said: “We haven’t see a drop (to Sabah) yet, but it will have an impact on leisure travel to Sabah and to some extent, Malaysia. Europeans are now planning their summer holidays and this incident will have an influence on their decisions.”
He said the company saw a big slide in arrivals early this year with group cancellations from Europe after an armed group claiming to be the Royal Army of the Sultan of Sulu made an incursion into Kg Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 4, 2013).
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president, Hamzah Rahmat, did not think the murder and abduction would impact Visit Malaysia Year 2014 in a big way. “It is an isolated case and Pom Pom Island is not a key tourism area in Sabah.”
Nevertheless, Adam Kamal, deputy president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, urged the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia to keep close tabs on developments and to update its overseas offices accordingly to prevent wrong information from being circulated.
