Eco-tourism helps to develop local community economy
KOTA KINABALU: The government’s efforts in helping tourism product operators especially among local communities, are seen as very successful in helping to mobilize their economy, said Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Exco (Gagasan Rakyat) Women’s chief, Hasrina Wati Golkhan.
According to her, communitybased tourism products, especially eco-tourism, not only benefit entrepreneurs but also indirectly promote the locals to domestic and foreign visitors.
“Most of the eco-tourism locations in Sabah are the result of the cooperation of local residents in villages or sub-districts, while their profits are often shared in partnership or using cooperative methods.
“For example, the community’s efforts in Kampung Melangkap Tiong in 2023, they managed to generate RM10,000 a month.
“The profits were not only benefited by 119 members, but with the help of the government they managed to add more facilities such as rest huts, halls and rental rooms,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Hasrina Wati, who is also the women chief of Usukan Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said that in Kota Belud, especially the Kadamaian area, more than 80 areas have been developed as eco-tourism with a minimum of 100 members and managed to record income of up to RM500,000.
While in Ranau there are 123 ‘Tagal’ areas which have also been promoted as eco-tourism to the point of being nominated as recipients of prestigious awards in the tourism industry, likewise in other districts such as Penampang, Tambunan, Lahad Datu and Semporna.
She also said previous government initiatives through the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) such as giving a grant worth RM10 million with assistance of RM20,000 to each of the 507 eco-tourism operators as well as overseas marketing strategies are very helpful, in ensuring that this community effort continues to progress.
She said entrepreneurs can also apply for matching grants provided by the federal government to carry out cultural activities and upgrading facilities.
Touching on the matter of policy, she hoped that the State and Federal Governments would begin to formulate a new, more progressive strategy since the National Tourism Eco Plan 20162025 is almost ended.
Hasrina Wati said that the potential of the state of Sabah in the tourism industry is very high and the Sabah State Government this year, particularly in the community-based tourism product segment, has allocated RM106.14 million along with an allocation of RM39.15 million for cultural mapping.
“With the large allocation in the Sabah Budget of 2024 for the tourism sector, it proves the seriousness of the State Government to ensure the development of eco-tourism and rural products is increasingly active,” she stressed.