Tourists warned against touching starfish in Sabah
The issue of tourists touching and holding marine creatures such as starfish has been highlighted on social media and news platforms over the years. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH
KOTA KINABALU - Tourists will face stern action if they touch or collect starfish from waters off Sabah, said a state minister.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said such actions violate ecotourism principles, which emphasise marine life conservation.
Datuk Seri Liew added that this is a core value upheld by the Sabah government in its commitment to sustainable tourism.
The state minister was responding to a viral video on social media where a tourist - believed to be a Chinese national - was seen collecting starfish while on a paddleboard in waters off Kota Kinabalu.
'We view this incident seriously and authorities will not hesitate to take stern action against any party found violating regulations related to wildlife and natural ecosystems in the state,' said Ms Liew.
Following the widely circulated video, an investigation by the Board of Trustees of Sabah Parks (LPATTS) confirmed that the incident occurred in Tanjung Aru waters and involved a tour company, she said.
She said a total of 30 starfish were collected by the tourist, identified as the Horned Sea Star or Chocolate Chip Sea Star, known locally as tapak sulaiman bertanduk (Protoreaster nodosus).
'These starfish play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem, and their removal can potentially disrupt this delicate balance,' Ms Liew said.
She urged all tour operators to ensure their tourists and staff adhere strictly to established guidelines and regulations, especially those concerning marine life protection.
'Awareness and compliance with these regulations are vital to ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem for the well-being of future generations,' she said.
Stressing that the state government is committed to environmental conservation, Liew said they will work with relevant agencies regarding this issue.
The issue of tourists touching and holding marine creatures such as starfish and turtles has been highlighted on social media and news platforms over the years.
Various initiatives, including engagements with tour operators and local communities, have been held to address this matter, but such actions still occur occasionally. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
40 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Chinese tourists ramp up European summer trips, as Americans cut back
Overall, Chinese tourists are being tighter with their budgets than most of their global counterparts. PHOTO: REUTERS Newly cost-sensitive Americans may be hitting the breaks on their big European vacations this summer, but another group is taking up the slack: Chinese travellers. According to a survey about long-haul trips the European Travel Commission (ETC) is publishing on June 10, which was previewed exclusively with Bloomberg, 72 per cent of Chinese respondents say they plan to travel to Europe this summer – up 10 per cent from 2024. The figures reflect the highest demand from Chinese travellers since the pandemic. That should elicit a sigh of relief for hoteliers, restaurateurs and other business owners across the continent who depend on big-spending foreign tourists. Before Chinese outbound tourism ground to a halt in 2020, it represented a particularly lucrative sector in Europe, with Chinese travellers coming in second to Americans in spending. Chinese tourists spent US$251 billion (S$323 billion) abroad in 2024, according to UN tourism, surpassing pre-2020 levels. That makes China the largest market in terms of overall tourism spending, even if until recently most of this revenue was spent on trips within Asia. But there's a significant catch in ETC's findings: Chinese tourists do not plan to spend like they used to. That is notable, given the group's previous propensity for luxury shopping. In fact, just 29 per cent of respondents say they plan to spend more than €200 ($290) per day, a 44 per cent drop compared to last summer, and a majority of Chinese travelers – 54 per cent – plan to limit their budgets between €100 to €200 a day. Even still, at least 53 per cent of Chinese respondents in ETC's report indicate shopping will play at least some role on their trips, and budgets are more generous among business travellers, 36 per cent of whom expect to spend more than €200 a day. Overall, Chinese tourists are being tighter with their budgets than most of their global counterparts. The ETC's survey queried 7,100 long-haul travellers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and the US about their summer travel intentions – and results show that a total of 11 per cent of travellers to Europe will be lowering their spending this summer. The overall ratio of travellers spending only €100 to €200 per day – 40 per cent – was lower than the Chinese traveller percentages. The reality is that in a climate of economic uncertainty, few travellers are splurging – regardless of their origins. That is echoed in data from the World Travel & Tourism Council showing that tourism growth is expected to slow sharply in 2025. Only a third of the ETC's American respondents are planning trips to Europe this summer, which is 7 per cent fewer than in 2024. And yet another three markets surveyed in the ETC report – Brazil, Canada and Japan – are on the decline, to a lesser degree. High travel costs and plans to vacation locally are the primary deterrents. Mr Eduardo Santander, chief executive officer of the ETC, sees reasons for optimism. 'While recovery from China has been more gradual than other long-haul markets, momentum is clearly building,' he said. Building back business with these travelers, he added, 'remains a top priority for many European destinations.' In other words, it's a relief that Chinese travellers are coming at all. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
Train service between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang to resume in June, says Russia
Passenger rail traffic between Russia and North Korea was suspended in February 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. PHOTO: REUTERS Train service between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang to resume in June, says Russia MOSCOW - Russia and North Korea plan to restart a direct passenger train service between Moscow and the North Korean capital Pyongyang this month for the first time since 2020, Russia's state-owned rail monopoly said on June 9. Russian Railways said it had agreed with North Korea's railways ministry to resume a twice-monthly service between the two capitals on June 17, a journey it said took eight days and which, at over 10,000km, was the longest direct rail journey in the world. Another service between Pyongyang and Khabarovsk, a Russian city close to China's north-eastern border, will restart two days later. The services will be operated by Korean State Railway, the state operator, and in the case of the Moscow-Pyongyang route will see a North Korean passenger railcar hitched to the regular Moscow-Vladivostok service and then re-attached to another train. Passenger rail traffic between Russia and North Korea was suspended in February 2020 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moscow and Pyongyang have since ratcheted up cooperation, including in the military sphere since President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024. North Korea confirmed in late April that it had sent more than 10,000 troops and weapons to Russia to assist in its war in Ukraine, aid which proved crucial for Moscow in recapturing Russia's western Kursk region from Ukraine. The two countries already operate a passenger rail service between Vladivostok in Russia's Far East and Rason, a North Korean port city. The nations are also linked by freight rail networks, although Russia does not disclose the size of the cargo traffic. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
Forum: Ongoing promotions at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
We refer to the letter (Offer discounts for local attractions during school holiday period, June 4). We would like to thank the writer for his feedback and encouraging words about Rainforest Wild Asia. We strive to make experiences at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve accessible and enjoyable for all. Local residents can take advantage of WildPass, a complimentary digital membership that provides access to year-round promotions for our ticketed experiences. In celebration of SG60, we recently launched a series of special offers for WildPass members. These include two-for-$60 tickets to Singapore Zoo and River Wonders (until June 30), three-for-$60 tickets to any wildlife park at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve for youth aged 13 to 21 (until Aug 28), and up to 26 per cent off admission tickets to any wildlife park (until Aug 31). In addition, seniors can enjoy an exclusive promotion – annual access to all five parks under the Friends of Mandai senior membership for just $60. For those who visit regularly, our Friends of Mandai membership continues to offer great value and benefits across our parks, and new sign-ups enjoy 16 per cent off until Aug 31. Together with new wildlife experiences and community activities under the Mandai is Wild About SG initiative, we hope to encourage local residents to rediscover the Mandai Wildlife Reserve with friends and families. Guests can also enjoy ongoing discounts with partner banks and merchants, while tourists may benefit from bundle deals available through the Destination Pass. More information is available on our website. Jean Choi Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Mandai Wildlife Group More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.