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| Sabah Tourism Board chairman Joniston Bangkuai said the board has received many complaints from tourists in Peninsular Malaysia about the relatively high airfare to Sabah and Sarawak. (Bernama pic) |
PUTRAJAYA: The Sabah Tourism Board hopes the federal government will reintroduce the cruise ferry service, Feri Muhibbah, which connected Peninsular Malaysia with Sabah and Sarawak in the 1980s.
Sabah Tourism Board chairman Joniston Bangkuai said reintroducing the Feri Muhibbah service could help promote tourism in the state, particularly community-based tourism.
Joniston, who is also the assistant state tourism, culture and environment minister, said reinstating the ferry service would provide more transport options and boost travel between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.
We have received many complaints from tourists in Peninsular Malaysia about the relatively high airfare to Sabah and Sarawak, he said.
“There is definitely a need for a cheaper mode of transport like the ferry, which has the advantage of carrying other vehicles and allows tourists to Sabah to travel around the state in their own cars.
“Perhaps not many people know that back then, Feri Muhibbah was Malaysia’s first and largest cruise ferry owned by the government, operating for national integration.
However, this service was discontinued a few years later. I believe that many parties will support this initiative if it is brought back, he told the media after officiating at the Sabah Community-Based Tourism Exhibition here today.
Joniston said 27 tourism associations from 22 districts in Sabah, along with five local craft entrepreneurs, are participating in the five-day exhibition which ends tomorrow.
He said the associations represent rural communities and play a crucial role in promoting community-based tourism destinations such as homestays, eco-tourism adventures and cultural activities to a wider audience.
Sumber: FMT
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