The Malaysian Insight

THE number of visitors to Sabah’s popular Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP), will be capped to protect the islands’ biodiversity.

The marine park’s five islands – Gaya, Sulug, Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi – draw thousands of visitors, because they are only 3-8km from Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah Parks Director Jamili Nais said he hoped to present a specific carrying capacity to the state minister in charge of tourism by year end after deliberating the plan with stakeholders.

“There are no specific numbers but there is a formula to help us decide, such as the limit of acceptable change, Jamili said.

“The concept will not only look into a specific number for capacity, but also look into ecological impacts arising from certain numbers.

“We carried out a study previously. We hope to be able to introduce this, once we are able to sell our entry tickets online,” he said during Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew’s site inspection of the TARP facilities and hygiene.

He said Sabah Parks will also engage with all the tourism stakeholders involved – such as the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, and the Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents – before a specific number is presented to the Park’s Board of Directors and the minister-in-charge to decide.

Jamili said Sabah Parks was also weighing the idea of turning TARP into an exclusive marine park, drastically reducing the number of annual visitors.

The marine park is presently faced with three major problems: overcrowding, overflowing rubbish from the mainland and a shortage of fresh water.

“We are in the middle of dealing with the water shortage and at present we are thinking of getting larger storage tanks for visitor use.

“We also harvest rainwater, but it’s not for visitor use, more for other general purposes,” he said.

At RM4 million a year, TARP is a real money-spinner for Sabah, with only Mount Kinabalu National Park generating more in terms of annual revenue.

According to Jamili, revenues doubled after Sabah Parks raised the conservation fees on Jan 1, 2018.

Meanwhile, Liew said her ministry had received many proposals from tour companies to set up new chalets, facilities as well as boat services.

However, Liew said she was not at liberty to divulge in detail as the matter is still being presented to the Sabah Parks Board of Directors, but reiterated that TARP will soon undergo a facelift. – June 14, 2019.