Sabah confident tourism will be back on track
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is eager to see its rural tourism sector grow and this will be made possible with the reopening of the country’s borders to visitors and businesses, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
He said the state had given focus to rural tourism and communitybased tourism to tap the many potentials available in Sabah.
Further, he said, such activities would help industry players earn a good income.
“Our aim is to transform community-based tourism into a worldclass tourism destination by 2030. If we can further tap the potential, I believe we can meet our target,” he said at the Asian Tourism International (ATI) College convocation ceremony.
Gunsalam pointed out that apart from Sabah’s natural tourism assets, the state was also a favourite destination for international events.
“Recently we had the Borneo Bird Festival and the WWF Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary Conference. I am made to understand that the World Tourism Conference is also happening at the end of the month.
“All these will undoubtedly require lots of skilled personnel and manpower to provide the best hospitality services to tourists,” said Gunsalam.
He pointed to human capital development as one of the main thrusts of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, apart from tourism, agriculture and industry.
“The state government is helping our youngsters and secondary school leavers acquire knowledge through scholarships, sponsorship and various other assistance,” he said.
Gunsalam praised the students whose learning experience had been marred by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If anything, the pandemic has taught us, it is to be resilient and resourceful in overcoming problems and challenges in life.
“Since 2020, when the movement control order (MCO) was implemented, you were made to study online without face-to-face learning with the lecturers and without being able to discuss with your peers.
“And despite the limitations, like internet coverage, you made it and managed to overcome every obstacle.
“Congratulations! Now there is nothing to stop you from moving forward,” he told the graduates.
Some 480 graduates of the Asian Tourism International (ATI) College received their diplomas during its 25th convocation ceremony.