PETALING JAYA, Nov 20 — Tourist arrivals in Sabah has seen a downward trend since the Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu in 2013.

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sabah and Labuan chapter chairman Robert Chong said although the decline was not dramatic, it had affected the industry.

Based on the state’s tourist arrivals statistics on the Sabah Tourism website, the state saw the lowest number of foreign tourists in February, March and April 2013 — during the intrusion.

Chong said most tourists used to come from United Kingdom but there had been more China nationals visiting the state in the last five years.

“Post Sulu intrusion, we suffered a dip in the number of arrivals from local and foreign tourists. Just as the industry was about to regain its footing, the series of kidnappings made things worse,” he said.

There were several kidnapping incidents in the state since 2013. On November 13 that year, Taiwanese tourist Evelyn Chong was kidnapped at Pom Pom island. Her husband Hsu Li-min was killed during the armed attack. She was released by Abu Sayyaf militants a month later.

On April 2, last year, Chinese national Gao Huayun and Marcy Dayawan were kidnapped from the Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort in Semporna. They were also released a month later.

Three other kidnappings also took place last year along the same coastline.

Chong, however, said there had not been any major cancellation of bookings following the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fen by Abu Sayyaf militants. Then, 39, was kidnapped from a seafood restaurant in Sandakan on May 15.

“This could be because the beheading did not happen in Malaysia and the kidnapping took place six months ago,” he said.

Matta vice-president (inbound) Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the tourism industry in Sabah remained resilient despite unprecedented challenges over the past two years.

He said the overall tourist arrivals recorded a drop of three per cent for the period ended September this year compared with the corresponding period last year.

“We expect better days ahead with the opening of new trails on Mount Kinabalu on December 1,” he said.

Tan said bookings for mountain climbing packages were in demand and was expected to boost arrivals next year. 

He said a new air route between Sabah and China will also see an increase of Chinese tourist arrivals next year. 

“Foreign investors are looking at opportunities to open new hotels and resorts in Sabah,” he said.

He also urged the government to take steps to eliminate terrorism.