Tourism players in the state are advised to handle any grievances they have, appropriately.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said their attitude should reflect the friendliness and the culture of Sabah.

He also cautioned industry players to be "more careful in their actions" as the industry had become very competitive and sensitive, and any action interpreted as unfriendly by the tourists could have repercussions.

"We are facing very stiff competition from countries like Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. In fact, our biggest competitors now in terms of new market are Vietnam and the Philippines. So we cannot afford to make mistakes.

"As everyone knows, we have worked very hard. The ministry, Sabah Tourism Board, and the Sabah tourism players..we have worked very hard to capture the Chinese tourists. And today, we are one of the biggest recipients of the Chinese tourists," he said.

Masidi said this in response to the public protest by members of the Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) and Bumiputera Tourist Guides Association (PBB) at Kota Kinabalu International Airport recently.

The associations claimed that a China tour guide, hired by a tour company, was operating illegally here.

Masidi said it was not the way Sabahans resolved issues as the people were well known for being nice and polite: "if there are any problems, my office is always open for discussion".

"If you do something that is interpreted as unfriendly to the tourist, and let's say the tourist ends up boycotting Sabah, we will be killing the industry that is giving us work - the industry which we work very hard to build over the years," he said.

-- BERNAMA