KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is conducting a thorough study of the reported monopoly by foreign-owned tourism companies in the state.
STB chief executive officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit said they were studying the spending patterns of South Korean tourists to mitigate the monopoly issue while welcoming them.
"We also want to find out how we can leverage their spending so that it also benefits the local economy," he said last night.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of the month. It may be expanded to include tourists from other countries, too, he said.
He was responding to complaints that foreign companies were dominating restaurants and tour bus operations in Sabah to cater for their countrymen, especially those from China and South Korea, which had resulted in local businesses losing out on opportunities.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said that licensing powers were under the federal government's purview.
If foreign-owned tourism companies obtain licences from the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry, they could operate, she added.
Liew said that despite this situation, foreign tourists had contributed to Sabah's economy through expenditures on accommodation, food, beverages, and activities like golf, diving and mountain climbing.
"We would like to balance the tourism industry in the state," she said, hoping that the study would find the best remedy.
Liew added they will be working with the Sarawak Tourism Board and when the study is concluded, they will submit a joint memorandum to the ministry.
"We want them to take note of what we want and we hope we can negotiate with them."