Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is exploring a potential collaboration with University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) to provide formal training and certification for aspiring bird guides and other tourism-related profession.
During a meeting on Tuesday, UCSF members led by its Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari engaged in discussions with STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on various tourism-related ideas.
The discussions, among others, focused on community empowerment, particularly the need to upskill and reskill rural folks, as well as tapping into the growing potential of birdwatching activities.
Present were Sabah Tourism Board Chief Executive Director Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, UCSF Vice-Chancellor Dr Rafiq Idris, and Sabah Institute For Development Studies (IDS) senior research associate Jesi Majungki.
In the meeting, Joniston shared STB’s recent participation in the Rutland Global BirdFest and plans to integrate birdwatching into community-based tourism initiatives to enhance its value.
He noted STB’s ongoing collaboration with the Sabah Birdwatchers Association to develop the birdwatching scene further and stressed the importance of offering proper certification for bird guides.
In response, Mohd Yaakub and Rafiq noted that some UCSF students are experienced birdwatchers, and tourism hospitality is among the courses offered by the institution.
They proposed that UCSF could partner with STB to offer short courses with proper certification, stressing the institution’s commitment to quality assurance.
Julinus highlighted the need for further discussions between STB, UCSF, and the Sabah Birdwatchers Association to explore this collaboration as a strategic step forward.
To evaluate the potential of birding segment within the community, the STB chief executive officer will be going to the ground and visit districts like Telupid, Tambunan, and Tenom (Rundum).
Reaffirming STB’s commitment to rural tourism, Joniston emphasised the growing interest among rural communities and the critical need for courses that equip them with the skills necessary to succeed in the tourism industry.
“Tourism should benefit all segments, not just five-star hotels. We definitely need skilled manpower in rural tourism.
“At STB, we welcome collaborations that align with our vision and empower the rural population,” he said.
The meeting also included discussions on collaborating with IDS to conduct research on Sabah’s tourism sector, with the aim of developing a comprehensive master plan.
