Kuala lumpur: The government is making concerted efforts to restore international confidence in the security of Sabah's east coast by inviting foreign ambassadors and representatives to witness the situation firsthand, nearly 13 years after the Lahad Datu incident. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the region's tourism potential that was adversely affected by past events.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasized the importance of this effort, acknowledging the impact the Lahad Datu incident had not only on the local community but also on tourism in the area. The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), which encompasses 10 districts along Sabah's east coast and integrates three main agencies, is tasked with ensuring the security situation normalizes.

Saifuddin Nasution highlighted the region's rich tourism potential, with islands, beaches, rivers, and forests contributing to local economic activities. He noted the importance of rebuilding international trust through outreach programs to demonstrate the improved security conditions. This initiative follows his visit to the family of Corporal Mohamad Nur Hafiz Rahim, who tragically died in a suspected electrocution incident in Beaufort, Sabah.

The program includes a three-day, two-night visit for foreign ambassadors and delegates to Sabah's east coast, allowing them to observe the security landscape and experience the area's attractions firsthand. Saifuddin Nasution expressed hope that these visits would encourage countries to reassess their travel advisories.

He revealed that this is the third year of the program's implementation, and several countries have adjusted their travel advisories accordingly. The United States and Japan are among those that have revised their guidance, while China has emerged as the leading source of tourist arrivals to Sabah's east coast. European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as East Asian nations, have also shown increased interest.

The minister noted a significant rise in tourist arrivals to the region over the past three years, attributing this growth to the program and the revised travel advisories. The influx of tourists is particularly notable on routes such as Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu and Kota Kinabalu-Tawau, as well as direct flights to Tawau.