Despite the intrusion into Sabah by terrorists last week, Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen has reiterated that the state was still safe for tourism.

ng yen yen 270213 07 In fact, the intrusion had little impact on tourism in the country, she said, adding that tourists should however, take precaution when travelling to Lahad Datu and Semporna.

"Not all places in Sabah are unsafe. Tourists can visit the captial city of Kota Kinabalu or scale Mount Kinabalu or head to Gaya Island.

Yen Yen ( left ) said her ministry and Tourism Malaysia are closely monitoring the situation in Lahad Datu and Semporna, Sabah and are getting updates at 12-hour intervals from the Sabah Tourism Board.

"We are constantly monitoring the situation.

“We receive daily reports from the Sabah Tourism Board to relay information to our officials," she told a press conference after the soft launch of the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2013 in Putrajaya today.

Meanwhile, in the Sabah Tourism Board’s website, its director Irene Benggon Charuruks has given an assurance that the tourism industry, island resorts and activities in the east coast of Sabah were operating as usual in the various dive destinations of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking, Pom Pom, Pandanan and Lankayan.

- Bernama