Community tourism rep to join overseas promos
KOTA KINABALU: A representative from the community-based tourism will be joining Sabah delegates from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for their official visits to overseas to promote its diverse range of rural tourism products.Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the representative would represent all community-based tourism stakeholders in Sabah to serve as an exposure as well as to create visibility in the international arena.“By bringing along a representative from the community-based tourism in our official visits to overseas, they will be able to showcase more of their products at the international stage.
“Sabah is rich with nature, wildlife, flora and fauna, and these are something that other places might not have, so we need to promote all that. “Every district in Sabah also offers different and unique products and services, and we want especially foreign tourists to experience each of that. They will keep coming back here and generate more income for the State,” she said when launching the Third Community Based Roadshow at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, here, Saturday. Liew said there is an increasing demand for international and domestic travellers who seek authentic, unique experiences and local lifestyles in the rural areas.“Travellers have a checklist of must-see in Sabah but to be unique and different, they venture to the areas less travelled. This is where our community-based tourism products fall in.
“I often see inspiring and breathtaking pictures which were actually taken around the Kundasang-Ranau area and the serene backgrounds in the interiors of Kadamaian and Tenom,” she said.Twenty-five districts in Sabah including Tungku, a sub-district, participated in the roadshow organised by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), which aims to showcase and promote rural tourism products and attractions, initiated by communities from each district.The roadshow is also a platform for new rural community-based operators to promote rural tourism activities as village homestay, local delicacies, local cultures and heritage, camping, adventures and other eco-tourism activities. Meanwhile, Liew was pleased that the State Government has increased its budget allocation for her Ministry, which included the community-based tourism.“I am happy that there is an increase of allocation to my Ministry and part of it for the community-based tourism. This will further develop the rural tourism in the country,” she said.
Source: Daily Express
