Wednesday, January 8, 2025 In early January 2025, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Malaysia officially revoked the operating licence of Layang-Layang Island Resort Sdn Bhd. This decision was made in accordance with Section 8 of the Tourism Industry Act 1992. The ministry did not disclose the exact reasons for this action but emphasized its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that tourism businesses comply with regulations.
It was noted that any violations of the law by tourism enterprises were taken seriously, with the aim of safeguarding public welfare and the interests of consumers. Resort’s Closure and Allegations of Non-Refunds The closure of Layang-Layang Island Resort had already been in effect since 2022, following the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent government-imposed lockdowns. Reports indicated that the resort had ceased operations during this period, which significantly disrupted the tourism sector in the region.
The ministry’s decision to revoke the licence came amid concerns raised by several tourism agencies in Sabah, which had experienced severe financial losses due to the resort’s inability to return deposits to customers who had made bookings well before the pandemic. The resort had reportedly failed to refund deposits to over 100 tourists who had booked scuba diving packages. These bookings had been made as far back as 2020, but the tourists were unable to experience their planned trips because of the.
