Liew (second right) receiving a festive scroll from Goh (on her right) and the God of Fortune (left). At right is Tan.
PENAMPANG: Efforts to position Pulau Manukan as a five-star boutique resort are underway to meet the growing demand for accommodation facilities on the island.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew announced this when officiating at the Lido Chinese New Year Night Market organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) at the Lido Square, here, recently.
She said the proposed development of Pulau Manukan involves the construction of 40 individual chalets which will be located in various strategic locations.
‘When completed, the boutique resort will help to boost high-end tourism on the island. This will enable the resort to vie for a place in the Destination Wedding Market to compete with popular sites in Asia,” said Liew.
The project is expected to commence in the middle of this year, she added.
On the upgrading of tourism facilities at Layang Layang on Mount Kinabalu (2,744 metres above sea-level), the Minister said the hostel project is scheduled for completion by May this year.
Earlier, in his address, FCAS President Tan Sri T C Goh said the Lido Square resembles a “Chinatown” in the eyes of the local Chinese community and native populace.
“The majority of Lido Square’s customers are Chinese, who choose the venue for their marketing chores, and 80pc of the shopkeepers are Chinese as well.
“And for the first time, the Chinese New Year Carnival (jointly organised by FCAS and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) was moved to Lido Square, further uplifting Lido as a place where the Chinese community gathers,” he said.
According to Goh, Lido Square is the last remaining Chinese wet market in Kota Kinabalu, given that this market is larger in size than the one in Taman Foh Sang, Luyang. “Moreover, the existing wet market in the Kota Kinabalu Central Market in the city centre has not been the first choice for local Chinese for many years,” he pointed out.
Also present were Assistant Finance Minister Tan Lee Fatt, and FCAS Vice-Presidents Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt and Ng Young Wah.
