KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Culture, Tourism and Environment Ministry was assured by United Kingdom officials that it will look into a ban for its citizens to travel to the east coast of Sabah.
Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew, during a recent courtesy call in London, had a discussion about the travel advisory with UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) South East Asia and Pacific director, Charles Hay.
The travel ban, which has been issued by the FCDO for some time now, advises against all but essential travel to islands and dive sites off Sabah's east coast due to kidnapping threats.
Liew invited Hay to come to Sabah and see for himself the satisfactory level of security in the state.
In July, the UK was among nine countries that participated in the Home Ministry's briefing and security survey programme at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) at the invitation of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The foreign representatives were provided with first-hand experience of the safety measures in place along Sabah's east coast, particularly in the ESSZone.
Hay, who served as the British high commissioner to Malaysia in 2019, took note of the improved security in eastern Sabah.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit drew Hay's attention to the increase in visitor arrivals from the UK and Ireland to Sabah from January to August this year compared with last year.
"The UK and Ireland recorded 20,140 visitors between January and August this year compared with 18,851 in the same period last year, an increase by 6.8pc." Ends