Datuk Christina Liew, Sabah’s minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, is advocating for the aggressive promotion of Semporna as a tourism destination.
Liew emphasized the need to strategically promote Semporna, citing its geographical location as an ideal tourism hotspot, both nationally and internationally.
During the 28th Regatta Lepa Semporna, Liew stated the importance of upgrading basic facilities like water and electricity supply as well as improving road infrastructure and security in the district.
She also stressed the significance of showcasing Semporna’s unique culture, marked by traditional costumes and dances.
Liew emphasized the need to boost confidence in Semporna as a safe and attractive travel destination to attract visitors to future regattas.
The Regatta Lepa Semporna, which took place on November 18 and 19, celebrates the Bajau Laut nomadic community and their traditional “lepa” boats.
Liew assured that she will raise the concerns about safety and quality facilities in Semporna to the state and federal governments.
She also stated her intention to bring Semporna’s tourism needs to the attention of Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac).
Additionally, Liew revealed that as of September, Sabah had achieved 85% of its target to reach 2.2 million visitor arrivals for 2023.
Liew shared statistics from the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Statistics Division, which reported an increase of 58.2% in visitor arrivals from January to September 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
