Declaring 'Blue Ring Hole' as new tourism product may confuse foreign divers, says tour operator

 

Local tour operator Glen Hapirulla said using the name blue hole will confuse foreign divers where in fact the site was merely a Blue Ring Reef that he discovered in 2017. -NSTP file pic

LAHAD DATU: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's (Motac) announcement that the Blue Ring Hole at Tingkayu Reef, Darvel Bay here will be the country's latest tourism product recently is inappropriate.

Local tour operator Glen Hapirulla said using the name blue hole will confuse foreign divers where in fact the site was merely a Blue Ring Reef that he discovered in 2017.

He feared that foreign divers will equate it with blue holes from other countries.

Glen expressed his regret on his social media page after Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who visited the site recently announced it as a newest tourism product.

Nancy believed there are only 10 Blue Ring Hole sites in the world, but the Tingkayu Reef one was interesting with two marine sinkholes.

In 2019, the Blue Ring Reef was given the spotlight when Sabah Parks allegedly declared it as their new discovery.

However, Glen explained that generally, 'blue hole' refers to a perforated underwater surface structure with a drastic depth reaching 100m such as 'The Blue Hole of Belize' as opposed to the Blue Ring Reef, which has a depth of only 24m.

He said the product has been promoted since 2017 including to the international market by former tourism minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who is Lahad Datu member of parliament.

"I think it is not appropriate to promote it as a new discovery by the tourism ministry.

"Instead, attention should be given to promote the uniqueness of the underwater area along with the more than 60 dive sites around it.

"The Tourism Ministry should go down to the field to try the diving experience to fully understand the potential of the industry in Lahad Datu.

"We have done one in 2017 under 'The End in Sipadan Diving Trail programme' to promote Darvel Bay as one of the stopover destinations in Sabah," he suggested.

He also hoped small entrepreneurs will be given the opportunity to enjoy the new incentives announced by the Tourism Ministry.

Glen said he had been operating over the past 10 years and explored more than 60 sites including the discovery of the Blue Ring Reef.

He suggested that the commitment of the dive operators who endured the ups and downs of the tourism industry should be among the criteria set in the new incentives.

"Despite this, I will continue to explore the underwater sites of the Blue Ring Reef and also to remove the bad perception of Lahad Datu as an area considered unsafe by foreign tourists," he said.

-nst online.

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