Kadamaian eyes world-class

KOTA BELUD: The scenic Kadamaian has been experiencing slow but steady tourism growth, as the local community continues to push through the pandemic to achieve a world-class rural tourism destination by 2025.

Following the easement of the travel ban, locals started to revisit recreational spots in Kadamaian, either operated privately or by the community, which sees rural tourism here being revived, albeit at a slow pace.

Despite being affected by the ongoing pandemic, Kadamaian Tourism Association (Kata) President Walter Duis Kandayon said it did not dampen the community’s spirit to continue working together to improve tourism in this area.

“Based on my observation, Kadamaian is now at 50 per cent towards achieving the 2025 vision, in terms of community-based tourism (CBT) knowledge, hospitality management, organising skill and infrastructure facilities.

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“The State Government and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) have continued to provide moral support and materials to rural tourism operators, here, especially during challenging times,” he said in a statement, Sunday.

Moreover, Walter said the Sabah New Deal, grant assistance for tourism operators, has given a much-needed boost of motivation, that saw Kadamaian tourism operators making full use of the grant to improve the existing facilities and build public toilets, huts, or mini halls.

On Saturday, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also STB Chairman, visited Kampung Tambulian Ulu to inspect the progress of upgrading works at Tomodo Paradise recreation centre, accompanied by STB Deputy General Manager (Finance and Rural Products) Julianus Jimit.

Tomodo Paradise is one of several privately or family-owned tourism sites operated along the pristine slow-moving Waliu River.

Currently, it has nine existing bamboo huts and other facilities, including public toilets and a mini hall, besides there are also five CBT recreational spots along the river, namely Terintidon, 3V Nahaba, Tegudon Tourism Village, Kalangadanku and Telungan.

Tomodo Paradise Manager Viannie Maihthy Juin said they started operating in May 2018 and recorded over RM30,000 in tourism revenue in the first eight months of the year.

Apart from domestic visitors, the centre also received international tourists from China, United States and Europe.

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“For now, just like other tourism operators in Kadamaian, we have to depend on local visitors. They have contributed to tourism growth during this pandemic and many are eager to visit the riverside tourism spots in Kampung Tambulian for family activities,” she said.

Tomodo Paradise has applied for a special grant under the Sabah New Deal, and they are currently constructing a chalet with two adjoining units to accommodate visitors wanting to spend the night, and they also improved their facility by constructing steps leading to the river, she added.

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