The Sabah government has reiterated its commitment to cracking down on illegal tourism operators, including foreign nationals abusing visitor passes to run unlicensed businesses.
State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Dr Andi Shamsureezal Mohd Saina said firm enforcement is necessary to protect legitimate local industry players. He noted that the state is working closely with the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac), as enforcement falls under the Tourism Industry Act 1992, which is a federal law.
Speaking at the state assembly on April 29 in response to Luyang assemblyman Samuel Wong Tshun Chuen, Andi stressed that Sabah will not tolerate any unlicensed tourism activities, whether carried out by locals or foreigners.
To strengthen enforcement, the Sabah Tourist Safety Committee has been established, bringing together agencies such as the police, Immigration Department, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), and Sabah Ports and Harbours Department. In addition, a Semporna Tourism Task Force has been formed to tackle issues in one of Sabah’s key tourism hubs, including safety, immigration, social, and infrastructure challenges.
The state believes this coordinated approach could serve as a model for other districts. Regular joint enforcement operations by Motac are already targeting individuals and businesses that violate regulations, particularly those misusing visitor passes.
Under the Tourism Industry Act, operating without a licence is a serious offence, carrying penalties of up to RM500,000 in fines, a maximum jail term of 10 years, or both.
Authorities say these strict measures are essential to protect licensed operators, ensure visitor safety, and maintain Sabah’s reputation as a sustainable and globally respected tourism destination.
