By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 10: Dive destinations in Borneo, such as Sipadan and Manukan in Sabah, offer significantly greater development potential due to their well-established tourism packages and immersive natural experiences, says Federal Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said these sites are more appealing to the experienced Australian diving market, compared to Peninsular Malaysia’s more beginner-friendly islands like Redang, Lang Tengah, and Tenggol.
“Australian divers prefer clear waters and rich marine biodiversity. As such, while islands like Redang, Lang Tengah, Tenggol may be suitable for beginners and the Asian market, they hold limited appeal for Australians.
“Conversely, destinations in Malaysia Borneo such as Sipadan and Manukan offer greater development potential due to their well-established packages and immersive natural experiences.
“Pairing these with ecotourism attractions could further elevate the overall travel experience,” Tiong said in a Facebook post following a working trip to Australia.
During the visit, he met with Dive Adventures chief executive officer (CEO) and director Jerry Witkowski, along with freediver and underwater photographer Robert McKee, to explore potential collaboration in dive tourism.
Tiong emphasised that while diving tourists may not arrive in large volumes, they are typically high-value travellers with strong spending power and a deep appreciation for nature and local culture.
Highlighting Malaysia’s growing appeal among Australian travellers, Tiong shared that the country received 477,785 visitors from Australia in 2024, marking an 11.7 per cent increase from the previous year. In the first four months of 2025 alone, 168,805 Australians arrived, reflecting a 16.8 per cent surge over the same period in 2024.
He said this upward trend presents a timely opportunity to position Malaysia more prominently in the dive tourism segment, particularly with experienced divers from Australia.
According to Tiong, Dive Adventures has a network of around 250,000 certified divers, with 20 to 30 per cent of them considered active. The company is open to exploring more dive sites in Malaysia, including under-promoted areas such as Johor, although further market studies are needed.
“Mr Jerry noted that what Australian diving enthusiasts value most is the presence of shark species, particularly non-aggressive types as commonly found in Malaysian waters, which in fact serve as an attractive feature.
“In contrast, they tend to be more cautious about species such as great white sharks found in Australia or California.”
To that end, Tiong extended an invitation for Dive Adventures to conduct site visits at various dive locations.
“I also encouraged them to personally assess destinations such as Redang, Tioman, and Semporna.
“I look forward to fostering more meaningful and in-depth collaborations with Australia’s dive industry, and to promoting Malaysia as the destination of choice for diving enthusiasts around the world,” he said. — DayakDaily
