KOTA KINABALU: Severe flooding in Kinabatangan has brought tourism to a halt, forcing lodges to close and causing financial losses, cancellations and property damage.

Kinabatangan, known for its vast floodplains, the Kinabatangan River and rich biodiversity, is a top ecotourism destination in Sabah.

The village of Bilit, home to seven river lodges, is among the worst-hit areas, with businesses unable to operate because of rising water levels. Lodge owners have reported unprecedented losses.

Bilit Adventure Lodge owner Johnny Lim described it as the worst flood in Bilit’s history.

“We have been operating for over 20 years and this is the first time we have been forced to shut down like this.

“The boardwalks are submerged and the water is almost knee-deep in some areas. It is unsafe for us to operate,” he said.

Lim, who is also the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association vicepresident, said January and February are usually slow, but this year, there was a surge of tourists from China.

Unfortunately, he said the opportunity was wasted as the floods forced tourist facilities to close.

“Not only did the tourists miss out on experiencing Kinabatangan, we also lost the chance to showcase what we have to offer,” he lamented.

With the floods affecting tourists who had planned river cruises and wildlife excursions, some accepted alternative activities like visiting the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and the Rainforest Discovery Centre, while others demanded refunds.

The situation worsened when the Kinabatangan disaster management committee announced the temporary closure of the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit due to rising water levels on Sunday.

“The water level in Kampung Bilit continues to rise. The road is already submerged and impassable to small vehicles.

“Based on the monitoring team’s assessment and in the interest of public safety, the committee recommends that the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit be closed to all vehicles until conditions improve,” the committee announced.

However, Lim said yesterday that the situation has been improving, with the water receding and the Sukau-bilit road now accessible to 4WDS. He said that once the jetty is no longer submerged, he would reopen his lodge, adding that he estimates this to take about three to four days.

The main attraction, a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River, offers visitors a chance to spot diverse wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, hornbills and even the elusive orangutan in their natural habitat.

It was reported earlier that tourists from Spain and New Zealand expressed disappointment as their planned river cruises and jungle treks had to be cancelled.

Some also noted that wildlife sightings were affected, with animals moving to higher ground to escape the rising water.

Asked if the floods would affect wildlife sightings during river cruises, Lim said day trips are being conducted despite the closure of the lodge.

“There is still a lot of wildlife to be spotted,” he said. Lim also appealed to the state government to provide financial aid to help the tourism operators recover.

“Three of my rooms are completely underwater and our staff quarters is damaged. We will need a massive clean-up,” he added.