SABAH TOURISM MINISTRY TO LIMIT NUMBER OF VISITORS TO PULAU MABUL

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Sept 8 (Bernama) -- The State Tourism, Culture and
Environmental Ministry would look at the possibility of limiting the number of
visitors to Pulau Mabul, a popular diving resort near Pulau Sipadan.

Its Assistant Minister Bolkiah Ismail said the move was pertinent to
avoid overcrowding and to preserve the island.

"The number of visitors is increasing every year. If the situation is not
controlled, it could impact adversely on marine life as well as the environment
at Pulau Mabul Park and the surrounding islands in the long run," he told
reporters after launching a workshop on the management plan for Sabah's islands,
here Thursday.

Sabah is an East Malaysia state.

He said the government would solicit the views of stakeholders including
tourism operators before introducing the new guidelines.


He said the ministry had earlier introduced guidelines restricting the
number of visitors to Pulau Sipadan, which is among the most popular scuba
diving centres in the world.

On the development of islands as tourism centres including those owned by
individuals, he said the ministry would conduct a study to identify them.

-- BERNAMA