Malaysia: Massive plans to develop Sipadan

Muguntan Vanar The Star 9 Jan 14;

KOTA KINANABALU: A China-based company is looking at a massive RM2.5bil integrated tourism development project in an area around the world-renowned diving haven of Pulau Sipadan.

The company – China’s Diving Best – is in discussion with Sabah Economic and Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) to facilitate their proposed development of a large scale development of a tourism project in the Semporna area.

SEDIA chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari said they had met the officials of the company a second time on Monday as follow up to the first meeting in June last year.

He said the China group had expressed strong interest in developing a large area in Sipadan into tourism-based resort, commercial and high-end residential areas with a focus on marine activities.

Under their proposal, he said that the project would be developed under five zones - residential area; commercial development; high-end resort; diving school and administrative centre at total investment cost of RM2.5bil.

He said under the proposal of the company they expect to receive one million tourists annually; provide 4,000 employment opportunities; house a population of 12,000 people; and have a construction scale of 700,000 square metres.

Dr Yaakub said that the meeting with the company’s delegation involved SEDIA, Tawau Municipal Council, Sabah Tourism Board, and Immigration department.

The meetings served as for SEDIA to answer key enquiries from the foreign investors, including fiscal incentives; immigration policies; real estate and land policies; available resources; advantages of investment in Sabah; and project construction management policies.

Diving Best, is known more for its Sanya Diving Training Centre business in Sanya City of China’s Hainan Province.

It has been certified by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and International Scuba diving school (SSI), with qualified professional divers engaged in diving tourism and leisure sport.

The company is also known for working with various international hotel brands such as the Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott, and also China’s Horizon Resort and Spa group in opening several sea tourism-based hotels and resorts in China.

Sabah is well-known in China as an eco and marine-based tourism destination that has raised interest in the company to to enter Sabah.