Pineapple festival at Nabalu proposed
Published on: Thursday, May 04, 2023
Joniston (second from right) visiting a stall selling pineapples at Pekan Nabalu.
Kota Kinabalu: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai proposed a Pineapple and Fruits Festival be held at Pekan Nabalu in Ranau to attract more visitors and tourists as well as promote local growers.He said Pekan Nabalu, the mid-way stop before reaching Kinabalu Park and Mount Kinabalu, and the surrounding villages are known as Sabah’s leading producers of pineapple.
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“Thus holding a Pineapple and Fruit festival would be an ideal way to promote local growers to highlight rural Sabah as a centre for agro-tourism,” he added.
The Kiulu Assemblyman said with the effort, the villagers could run tourism business and also plant pineapple and other crops either as a hobby or to diversify income.
“This festival is also essential in enhancing Sabah’s tourism promotion efforts. For instance, Kiulu is a rural tourism and fruits hub that places a strong focus on eco and agrotourism.
“In addition to attracting visitors and tourists alike, the pineapple festival will be a great opportunity for local farmers and entrepreneurs to showcase their products, network with other industry players and increase their market reach,” he said in a statement after launching Pekan Nabalu Kaamatan Festival, Wednesday.
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Joniston also visited and met with stall operators at Pekan Nabalu, which has many food and handicraft stalls, public washrooms and restaurants.
Pekan Nabalu, located around 80km east of Kota Kinabalu, has grown to become a tourist attraction and also as a rest stop for travellers and tourists going to Kinabalu Park and Mount Kinabalu.
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