KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is engaging with stakeholders over visitor management at Masjid Bandaraya, one of the city’s most visited landmarks.
Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said they are committed to ensuring visitors have a memorable and safe experience when exploring the state’s attractions.
“We take tourism management at Masjid Bandaraya seriously and are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to address recent concerns,” she said in a statement.
Masjid Bandaraya, also known as the Likas Floating Mosque, is renowned for its breathtaking Islamic architecture and picturesque setting against the South China Sea.
As the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, it attracts thousands of worshippers as well as tourists.
However, issues with visitor management, such as independent travellers using ehailing services, handling large crowds and maintaining cleanliness have come to light.
Concerns over inappropriate tourist behaviour, such as taking selfies in unsuitable areas or entering restricted sections of the mosque, have also been raised.
“It is crucial that all service providers, including transport operators and tour guides, uphold high standards, particularly in terms of safety, visitor experience and cleanliness,” Liew said.
As part of this effort, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), through its Industrial Support Committee, met with Masjid Bandaraya’s tourism management team on Jan 28 to discuss key concerns related to visitor safety and experience.
Among the main issues highlighted were the increasing number of Free Independent Travellers (FITs) using ehailing services and accessing unsafe areas.
Better safety measures, such as the installation of warning signs to keep visitors from standing in dangerous areas, were also a point of discussion.
In addition, there were calls to revise and update the mosque’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) to provide clearer guidelines for visitors, transport providers and tourism stakeholders.
Liew said a special engagement session will be held this month, bringing together key stakeholders, including the mosque management, tour operators, licensed tour guides, ehailing service providers and relevant government agencies, such as the Public Works Department (JKR), Kota Kinabalu City Hall, the police and the ministry.
Liew said the session will provide an opportunity to brief stakeholders on the revised SOP and gather feedback to refine visitor management strategies.
STB will also collaborate with ehailing service providers to establish designated drop-off and pick-up points at the mosque.
Additionally, discussions with JKR will explore the possibility of setting up a dedicated drop-off zone for tour buses to help improve traffic flow and convenience.
Enforcement against unauthorised transport operators, particularly illegal vans operating outside regulatory guidelines, will take place in the meantime.
To enhance the visitor experience, Liew encouraged Masjid Bandaraya’s management to provide customer service and communication training for frontline staff.
All personnel would be required to wear proper uniforms to ensure they are easily identifiable and accessible to visitors.
Plans are also in place to construct a dedicated public toilet for tourists, further improving comfort and convenience at the site.
“With these improvements, we hope to create a safer and more enjoyable experience for all visitors to Masjid Bandaraya while upholding safety, service quality and tourism regulations,” Liew said.
