RMCO: Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary offers promotional prices

SANDAKAN, July 11 -- The poor response among local visitors have prompted Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary near here to offer promotional prices beginning Monday (July 15) until Aug 31, the last day of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).

Its director Michael Lee Hing Huat said this was to encourage more visitors among Malaysians to visit the sanctuary while Malaysia's international borders were still shut to foreign tourists.

"Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary had been one of the must-visit places for tourists in Sandakan. 

"However, since the sanctuary reopened on July 1 to domestic tourism, the response from locals is not encouraging," he said in a statement here today.

Lee said that, following this development, they had decided to introduce promotional prices for locals - RM10 for adults, RM5 for students, and free admission for children under 12 years old.

However, the canteen would remain closed until further notice, he said.

“We hope that this (promotional price) will attract the locals to visit our sanctuary as we are now heavily relying on local visitors to survive,” he added.

Lee also said that shutter bus services to bring visitors from hotels in Sandakan to the sanctuary had also stopped operating until foreign tourists could start coming to Sandakan. 

“Before the MCO, our visitors were mostly from China, Hong Kong, and European countries. 

“During this difficult time, we hope that the locals will support local tourism, and support us,” he said.

The Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary offers an observation spot for visitors who want to have a closer look at the long-nosed monkey. 

-- BERNAMA