KIULU: Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair 2024 (CBTF), which promotes the State’s authentic countryside experiences, will be promoted outside the State for the first time.
It is scheduled to be held at the IOI City Mall in Putrajaya in October, said Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai,
He said it was time for local community-based operators to venture out of their comfort zone and into bigger markets.
“This event offers tour operators and rural tourism product operators to get together and discuss how to better package rural destinations for new markets,” he said at the handing over of the screen panel and 2024 Kiulu Tourism Association Appreciation programme, here, Monday.
A total of 26 community-based tourism operators and 40 private entrepreneurs attended the programme.
Joniston said a Mentor and Mentee programme will also be introduced in Kiulu which provides a platform for successful tourism operators to share their success stories with newcomers.
“We (STB) are currently identifying mentors and mentees for the programme. The sessions will be done in phases,” said the Kiulu Assemblyman.
Joniston, who is also Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, also announced that three Sabah rural operators have been shortlisted for this year’s Asean Tourism Standard Accreditation.
The three - Murug-Turug Eco Tourism, Lingga Eco Tourism and Bambangan Lama Eco Tourism - met the 10 criteria set for the prestigious award.
“The main criteria emphasise management, business direction, standard operating procedures and how the tourism activities would impact the local economy.
“Most importantly, all these must be documented,” he said, adding that winning the award would strengthen Sabah’s growing international reputation for rural tourism.
