STB Tackles Fuel Woes with Tourism Stakeholders

24 April 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) held an engagement with tourism operators today to address operational challenges stemming from fuel supply constraints and subsidy access issues impacting the state's tourism sector.

This marked the first such session chaired by Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who also serves as Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, following the launch of STB's Crisis Response Unit.

The unit fosters structured dialogue with industry stakeholders.

“Our aim is to gather feedback from tourism operators, compile their issues and proposals, and present them to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, and then to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living,” Joniston said.

“This is our first step. Next, we hope to arrange a follow-up session with Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and industry players to discuss the sector's consolidated feedback.”

Operators of island resorts, boat transfer services, and inland eco-tourism ventures reported being hardest hit by ongoing fuel shortages and subsidy barriers.

Those relying on diesel for generators and daily boat transfers described repeated, unsuccessful subsidy applications.

They urged a review of the current subsidised quota, noting that the 200-litre daily cap for boats fails to match real operational needs in remote areas. In Semporna, for instance, a single transfer takes 40–60 minutes, far longer than elsewhere, driving up fuel use.

Lodge and river cruise operators in Kinabatangan raised similar diesel supply and quota concerns, with some already scaling back activities.

Participants called on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to account for island realities, citing Selingan Turtle Island, where one operator supplies free fuel for security generators, adding to costs. Several firms are absorbing higher fuel prices to honour pre-price-hike bookings, curtailing their ability to raise package fees.

A hotel representative sought clarity on extending subsidies to urban hotels for uses like laundry boilers, amid recent electricity tariff hikes.

Suggestions included analysing data on Sabah's registered tourism boats for accurate fuel needs, plus broader aid: engaging the Ministry of Finance on COVID-era-style support and financial institutions on loan moratoriums.

Also present were STB Deputy Chairman Datuk KL Tan, Chief Strategic Officer Humphrey Ginibun, and Head of Stakeholder and Industry Relations Halimah Hassan.