By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will consider measures to curb "Ali Baba" practices among tour operators, as part of efforts to protect the state's tourism industry.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the move is aimed at preventing the misuse of local names by third parties.
"We want to prevent 'Ali Baba' arrangements or the misuse of local names for the benefit of other parties.
"We aim to protect the tourism industry from activities that could damage Sabah's reputation," he told reporters after flagging off participants at the inaugural Borneo Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) Marathon at a resort here.
He was responding to the three-month grace period given to unlicensed tourism premises and illegal lodging operators in Semporna, which is due to expire in two days.
More than half of the 190 tourism premises in the district have been reported to be operating without valid licences.
Jafry said about 40 industry players have been identified as holding valid licences, with the list published on the Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia Ministry (Motac) website for public reference.
"The rest will be discussed within the integrated task force in terms of how to legalise operations that may not comply with existing regulations.
"We do not intend to shut them down, but rather to ensure that they can operate legally," he said.
He added that a task force meeting involving multiple agencies — including local authorities, district offices, and port authorities — will be convened after the deadline to determine the next course of action.
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