Bangkuai (centre) taking a closer look at a traditional spear, one of the many artifacts, at the Walai Tobilung.
KOTA MARUDU: The jewel of tourism is in the rural areas just waiting to be tapped, said Assistant Tourism, Cultural and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor placed high importance in rural tourism when it proposed an allocation of RM17.2 million for its development in the State 2021 Budget.
“This is unprecedented that we receive such a huge allocation, which proves that there is great potential in rural tourism, especially community-based tourism,” he said.
Speaking during his working visit to Walai Tobilung Cultural Stay here Sunday, Bangkuai who is also Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman said community-based rural tourism in Sabah has been a success so much so several states had expressed interest in emulating its business model.
In Sabah’s context, he believed Walai Tobilung can be a model for other areas venturing into cultural and eco tourism.
Among the key attractions at Walai Tobilung are traditinal dance and music performances, Tobilung mock wedding and exhibition of traditional artifacts.
Bangkuai was briefed by founder of Walai Tobilung, Janes Kinsarong that before the Movement Control Order (MCO), they used to have up to 100 visitors daily.
Walai Tobilung is also involved in eco-tourism by organising jungle and hill trekking.
Accompanying Bangkuai was Political Secretary to the Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Christopher Mandut and STB Board members Lu Kim Yen and Walter Kandayon.
With the tagline “Experiencing Culture, Nature and Heritage”, Walai Tobilung is also one of Cultural Sites of Kinabalu Geopark under UNESCO. It is about two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu.
“Our cultural heritage is one of the uniqueness of our state. It is an attraction for many foreign visitors because we have so many ethnics and sub-ethics but able to live in peace and harmony,” said Bangkuai.
He also said the State government’s committment to develop rural tourism is reflected in the setting up of a
joint-committee between Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and the Rural Development Ministry to effectively address issues affecting the tourism sector.
In a bid to better promote agro tourism, he also suggested that the Agriculture Ministry be included in the joint committee.
After Walai Tobilung, Bangkuai visited the Marudu Bay Ecotourism Community project that involves nine villages as well as the historical Syarif Osman Monument.
He noted these products have great potential through proper packaging, which he said STB can play a role.
“On our part in Sabah Tourism we can assist to our level best but in the end it is up to the community itself to make the endeavour a success,” he said.
Later in the afternoon, Bangkuai attended the opening of the Rajawali Homes officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
The opening of Rajawali Homes is proof of the confidence of its owner that the hospitality industry will bounce back post Covid-19 pandemic.
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