Geo-inspired Tamus in three districts
Published on: Friday, July 26, 2024
By: Patimang Abdul Ghani
Joniston witnessing the signing of documents between Sabah Parks Director Dr Maklarin and Korea National Park Service, Kim Doheon.
KOTA MARUDU: Sabah’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) is taking steps to ensure that the goal of Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark (KUGGp) can be achieved.
Kota Belud, Ranau and Kota Marudu districts were recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark sites which were later named as Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark (KUGGp) on May 24 2023 by the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, France.
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Minister, Datuk Christina Liew said “Geopark Sustainability Catalyst” is an aspiration to promote awareness of the sustainability of nature as the core of economic development.
According to Liew, through the concept of “responsible tourism”, she wants to ensure that every aspect of development in the KUGGp areas need to go hand in hand with sustainability.
She was speaking at the Geopark Tamu in conjunction with KUGGp’s First Recognition Anniversary 2024 and her speech was read by KePKAS Assistant Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Liew said, taking the theme of “Tamu” which means “meeting place”, starting this year, a new brand and product of KUGGp has been inspired which was “Tamu Geopark”.
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She said this was a renewal in the marketing strategy of community-based tourism products within the KUGGp area, as well as providing a platform for local communities to exhibit and market their products.
“This year, a total of 15 sales sites are provided according to three Geopark Tamu categories, namely; Geo-Gastronomy which is traditional food products, while Geo-Kraf which markets natural handicrafts and traditional handicrafts, as well as Geo-Costum which exhibits and sells traditional local ethnic clothing.
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“ At this stage, the ministry through Taman Taman Sabah (TTS) is actively trying to empower local communities in these three districts.
Liew reminded that all parties continue to protect and defend KUGGp for the next 1,000 years.
The total area of KUGGp is 4,759 sq km and is home to 291,300 people living in 423 villages in all three districts.
Through this recognition, the state of Sabah and the country in general have joined Jeju Island in South Korea and Shennongjia in China as the only three sites on this earth that have received the Triple Crown recognition from Unesco.
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