KiTA
KiTA KICKS START TOURISM IN KINABATANGAN
The executive committee of KiTA (Kinabatangan -Corridor of Life Tourism Operator Association) represented by its president, Mr Alexander Yee and vice president, Mr Johnny Lim met up with Mr James Leong, the chairman of Sandakan Media Association (Persatuan Media Sandakan Sabah, Pemassa) and handed over 200 masks and 3 bottles of hand sanitizers to the Association.
“We are appreciative of the sacrifices the media friends have made during the recent Movement Control Order (MCO) and the on-going Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). Despite challenging environment, they are on the field daily to cover important news so that the public can be well informed” said Alexander “with un-ending updates, the public can rely on reliable sources and not succumb to fake news or rumours” added Alexander.
When receiving the items, James thanked Alexander and Johnny on behalf of Pemassa and said that Pemassa always place priority to the safety of its members assigned to frontline duties throughout the MCO and CMCO. “We appreciate the assistance provided by elected representatives, NGOs, private sectors and individuals for media practitioners in Sandakan”, he added.
During the brief hand over session, both Alexander and Johnny also informed James that KiTA has put in place strict standard operating procedures (SOP) in line with the guidelines of Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation and the member lodges are ready to kick start tourism activities in Kinabatangan by middle of June. KiTA is just waiting green light from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and Majlis Perbandaran Sandakan. KiTA has also formulated several activities such as hygiene re-branding of member lodges, front liners appreciation stay program and also a “Welcome Back to Kinabatangan” promotional video by the fame Sandakan based videographer, Mr Cede Prudente.
All KiTA member lodges will carry a KiTA logo with a tagline “Safe. Trustworthy. Resposible.” KiTA will form a sub-committee to self-audit the members. Such self-auditing has been done before for Sustainable Practices of KiTA member lodges.
Trustfully, with the new SOPs and branding in place, KiTA member lodges will be seen as “green zone lodges” and will give confidence for tourists to visit.
In order to proceed with these reviving activities, KiTA will be using its reserve of volunteering conservation levy to the tune of RM200,000.
Alexander will be leading KiTA to meet up with YB Christina Liew, the minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah to brief the minister on KiTA’s strategies and plans as well as to seek the Ministry to match the amount set aside by KiTA in order to revive tourism of Kinabatangan.
KiTA member lodges alone contribute about RM50 millions of tourism revenue to the area yearly.
It is vital that Kinabatangan leads the revival of tourism activities in the east coast of Sabah as tourists coming to Kinabatangan often enter via Sandakan and also visit surrounding areas like Sepilok, Tabin and Danum Valley. The estimated value of these tourism activities is said to be RM140-180 million yearly.
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