The Borneo Post (Sabah)

STB, KCCI to collaborat­e in tourism

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Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is looking into collaborat­ing with Kadazandus­un Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to provide rural folks with proper tourism soft skills training.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is looking into collaborat­ing with Kadazandus­un Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to provide rural folks with proper tourism soft skills training.

STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the Kadazandus­un and Sabahan community needed upskilling to enhance their knowledge competency so they would have better communicat­ion skills when explaining their product and cultural values to tourists.

“We are really going strong on rural tourism because of its huge potential. In Kiulu itself, the revenue for its rural tourism is RM5.2 million with more than 40 operators based on a 2019 report.

“We can work together with KCCI on initiative­s to empower our Kadazandus­un community in the tourism area and KCCI can be a platform to conduct training for targetted areas towards the preservati­on of culture as well as environmen­t,” he said.

Bangkuai, who is also Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environmen­t Minister, said this during a courtesy call by the KCCI delegation at the STB office here, yesterday.

Among the potential collaborat­ions is working together to conduct a pilot project to train the local community to understand product values so they would not be taken advantage by tourists and visitors alike.

STB had in 2019 collaborat­ed with Universiti Malaysia Sabah on pilot projects to teach the Kadamaian and Kiulu community basic Chinese and English language.

Last year, a similar project was to be carried out with the Marais and Rundum community in Tenom but was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, KCCI president Datuk Bonipasius Bianis highlighte­d on the need to provide basic training for Kadanzandu­sun folks who have potential to become tourist guides at their respective area.

“I have received feedback especially at Kampung Kiau in Ranau, the people are doing guiding for bird watchers. However, what is lacking is their knowledge and communicat­ion skills.

“There’s a need to give them basic foreign language, especially English, and knowledge on bird species. This is so they will have value as a guide instead of just guiding because they are familiar with the area,” he said.

KCCI noted a similar situation was also happening among local traditiona­l weavers, who lack skills in explaining the value of their product and hence they often settle for a much lower price when negotiatin­g with tourists.

Bianis said KCCI looked forward to working with STB on assisting the Kadazandus­un community to get back on their feet, noting some of its 800 members involved in tourism are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Present at the courtesy call were STB deputy general manager, in charge of finance, corporate and products division, Julinus Jimit; KCCI deputy president Datuk Ladislaus Maluda; KCCI secretary-general Pius Jaua; and KCCI vice presidents Edmond Lo, Anne Antah, as well as Dennison R. Indang.

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 ??  ?? Joniston receiving a souvenir from the Kadazandus­un Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation led by Bonipasius during the courtesy call on Wednesday.
Joniston receiving a souvenir from the Kadazandus­un Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation led by Bonipasius during the courtesy call on Wednesday.

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