Kota Kinabatangan: The Mukim Baru Puteh Kinabatangan Tourism Cooperative (Kopel) Bhd has shut down all its eco-tourism activities, particularly those involving areas around Sungai Kinabatangan, since Feb 3 due to floods.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kopel general manager Saidal Udin stated that the cooperative will reschedule tourist bookings affected by the shutdown. He emphasized that floods rarely occur, and standard operating procedures and reassessments determine whether or not tourism activities proceed. The initiative to halt activities was taken for the safety of tourists, who are a priority. Kopel has temporarily closed tourism activities, with 90 percent of their tourist bookings coming from abroad, mainly from European countries and Australia.

Sixty-two-year-old Jamali Askal, who operates a homestay in Kampung Mengaris 1, noted that the flood water levels have reached unprecedented heights, impacting the housing area for the first time. He expressed hope that authorities would assist flood-hit homestay operators, as bookings have been canceled due to the inability to conduct tourism activities. Despite receiving tourist bookings monthly, the floods forced cancellations this time. Since Kopel cannot operate, they are not receiving tourists, and tourism activities are closed. The homestay concept in the village involves tourists staying with house owners.

Another homestay operator, 44-year-old Johan Unus, reported financial setbacks for most operators in Kampung Mengaris due to the floods. The situation has necessitated the cancellation of all tourism activities for safety reasons. While bookings for homestays are still allowed, activities in the forest or river are not. Unus also expressed hope for assistance from authorities to support tourism industry players whose income has been impacted by the floods.