KOTA KINABALU: The president of Sabah Human Development & Empowerment Association (SAHDEA), Arthur Erik Undan-Lee has cast doubt on Sabah's official tourism statistics, revealing mathematical inconsistencies in the state's reported RM3.3 million tourism revenue for early 2025.
The analysis challenges Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai's announcement of 1.44 million visitors generating just RM3.3 million - an implausible RM2.29 per tourist expenditure.
Undan-Lee's investigation highlights stark discrepancies when comparing current claims with historical data:
2023 figures: RM4,225 average spending per tourist
2024 figures: RM2,050 average spending
2025 claim: RM2.29 average spending (99.9% decrease)
"Either there's been a catastrophic collapse in tourist spending, or these numbers contain significant errors," Undan-Lee states in his release, suggesting a possible missing "billion" in the assistan minister's figures.
SAHDEA further raised deeper concerns about tourism revenue leakage, including but not limited to:
1. Up to 60% of earnings potentially exiting Sabah through foreign-owned resorts.
2. International booking platforms skimming 15-20% commissions.
3. Persistent low wages for local tourism workers.
Undan-Lee emphasises: "When most profits leave Sabah, impressive visitor numbers become meaningless for local communities."
The controversy has put the spotlight on the state’s tourism reporting practices. If the RM3.3 million claim was indeed an error, a swift correction is needed to restore confidence. But if the number is accurate, it raises serious questions about who really benefits from Sabah’s tourism boom.
As one resort owner in Semporna put it: “Tourism isn’t just about numbers—it’s about whether the money stays in the pockets of Sabahans.”