By Sabah Media Editor
KOTA KINABALU: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has been urged to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed tourism operators and illegal resorts in Semporna amid growing concerns over uncontrolled development and mounting pressure on marine ecosystems in key tourism destinations such as Mabul and Kapalai.
The call follows concerns raised by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who stressed that tourism development in the area should not be driven solely by short-term profits at the expense of environmental sustainability and the long-term future of Sabah’s tourism industry.
Recently, Hajiji highlighted issues related to congestion and rapid development in Semporna, warning that uncontrolled expansion could place increasing pressure on the area’s tourism carrying capacity and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, official state records indicate that the issue of unlicensed operations in Semporna has reached an alarming level.
Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif revealed that 190 accommodation premises, including hotels, resorts and chalets, were identified operating in Semporna, but only a small portion possessed valid licences.
Of the total:
• 68 premises are located in island and marine areas, with only nine holding valid licences while 59 were found operating illegally;
• 122 premises are located on the mainland, of which only 37 possess valid licences while 85 were operating without approval.
Overall, 144 accommodation premises in Semporna were found to be operating without valid licences or registration.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Jafry Ariffin previously disclosed that only 46 out of 190 identified resorts possessed valid tourism licences, while around 80 resorts had yet to submit any licence applications.
Media reports also stated that several resorts and accommodation operators in Semporna had been fined and ordered to temporarily cease operations for operating without licences. Enforcement operations were carried out jointly by local authorities and the Semporna District Office to monitor compliance with existing regulations.
The situation has raised serious concerns regarding tourist safety, operational standards, environmental protection, and control over tourism-related activities in the district.
Industry observers believe that regularisation exercises alone are no longer sufficient unless accompanied by aggressive on-ground enforcement.
Among the measures proposed are:
• integrated enforcement operations against illegal operators,
• periodic licence audits,
• stricter control of tourism jetties,
• monitoring of boat activities,
• and immediate closure orders against operators failing to comply with licensing requirements.
The government has also been urged to establish an integrated digital database system allowing tourists and enforcement agencies to verify the licensing status of tourism operators transparently.
Semporna remains one of Sabah’s most valuable tourism assets and is internationally recognised for its marine tourism appeal.
However, without continuous enforcement and proper development controls, the district risks facing overtourism, marine pollution and biodiversity degradation that could eventually damage Sabah’s global tourism reputation and long-term economic value.
