The kidnapping of two women including a Chinese national at a floating resort near here has not affected business for tourism players judging from the continuous arrival of local and foreign tourists to the island resorts off the area.      

'Uncle Chang', a resort owner at Pulau Mabul attested to this, telling Bernama that there had not been any request for cancellation of reservations made prior to the incident.      

"We can see that the tourists are still coming. Our resort gets between 70 and 80 customers daily and until today we continue to receive the same number," he said.         

Sim Kim Yaw, a resort owner at Pulau Sipadan also said business was thriving, with no one canceling their booking.     

"I also offer boat services to ferry tourists to the islands and there has been no shortage of passengers for us," he said.     

Tour bus driver Abdul Rahim said his usual number of passengers to Semporna has not declined.    

 

"I sent 30 tourists there today and my fellow drivers have also sent around the same number," he told Bernama .     

Meanwhile, a tourist from Sydney, who only wanted to be identified as Leuke, 30, said he heard about the kidnap but it had not stopped him and a friend from coming to Semporna.     

"I made a booking to Pulau Mataking before the incident and I did not cancel it because I know it is safe here," he said, adding, they were holidaying on the island for three days.     

Molly, 24, from Switzerland, said she and her male companion had purposely chosen Semporna as a holiday destination.      

"We knew about the incident but we still come here because the resort is just too breathtaking to resist. But we also hope the authorities will enhance security around here," she said.     

In the incident at Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort, Semporna around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, Gao Hua Yua, 29, from Shanghai and a resort worker, Filipina Marcy Dayawan or Mimi, 40, were abducted by a group of seven armed men.

- Bernama