Floods: Homestays Affected As Tourism Operators Shut Down Activities

KINABATANGAN, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The Mukim Baru Puteh Kinabatangan Tourism Cooperative (Kopel) Bhd has shut down all its eco-tourism activities, particularly those involving areas around Sungai Kinabatangan, since Feb 3 due to floods.

Kopel general manager Saidal Udin said that, as such, it will reschedule tourist bookings affected by the shutdown.

"Floods rarely occur, SOPs (standard operating procedures) and reassessments are what determine whether or not we carry out tourism activities. So, we took this initiative for the safety of tourists, who are our priority. We have closed tourism activities temporarily.

"At Kopel, 90 per cent of tourist bookings that we receive are from abroad, mostly tourists from European countries and Australia,” he told Bernama.

He, however, hopes that the authorities can come up with ways to help tourism industry players in the district who are badly hit by floods.

Sixty-two-year-old Jamali Askal, who has been running a homestay in Kampung Mengaris 1 since 2000, described the flood water levels this time as higher, having never reached the housing area before.

"Hopefully, the authorities can help the flood-hit homestay operators. (Homestay) Bookings have been cancelled because tourism activities cannot be carried out. We receive tourist bookings every month. It's just that this time because of the floods, we had to cancel the bookings.

"Kopel also can't operate, so we are not receiving any tourists and tourism activities are also closed,” he said, adding that the homestay concept in the village is such that tourists will stay with the house owners.

Another homestay operator, 44-year-old Johan Unus said most homestay operators in Kampung Mengaris took a financial hit due to the floods, which caused all tourism activities to be called off for safety reasons.

"Bookings solely for homestays are still allowed but not for activities in the forest or river. Because of the floods, Kopel has had to cancel all such activities for the safety of the tourists, resulting in us being directly affected,” he said.

He also hopes the authorities can help tourism industry players whose income has been affected by the floods.

-- BERNAMA