Sabah is bringing its community-based tourism (CoBT) promotion to Peninsular Malaysia.
For the first time, Sabah CoBT operators met with travel agents from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Selangor in a business-to-business (B2B) session. at the Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair (SCBTF) 2024, which take place from 16 to 20 October at IOI Mall Putrajaya.
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai described the event as a “game-changer” that opens new opportunities for collaboration.
“We are leveraging the growing back-to-nature trend among tourists,” he said at a press conference held at the Moxy Hotel Putrajaya.
The session involved 27 tourism associations from 22 districts in Sabah, introducing agents to a variety of cultural, adventure, and nature-based experiences offered in rural Sabah.
Participating associations include representatives from the districts of Ranau, Inanam, Kota Belud, Kiulu, Tuaran, Papar, Membakut, Kuala Penyu, Sipitang, Penampang, Tenom, Nabawan, Kemabong, Keningau, Tambunan, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Pitas, Tongod, Telupid, Beluran, Kunak, Lahad Datu, and Kinabatangan, among others.
“We aim to attract more visitors to our rural areas, and the potential for collaboration is enormous.
“We hope to conduct similar events internationally to connect our CoBT operators with larger markets,” he said.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit remarked that the STB is dedicated to supporting rural communities by providing essential guidance and resources for promoting our rural destinations both domestically and internationally.
“Tourism is a platform to empower rural communities, driving socio-economic growth and fostering sustainable communities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Goal 11.”
The five-day event will also include the participation of five handicraft cooperative entrepreneurs and will feature 34 booths from various tourism associations and local products from Sabah.
Julinus noted that attendees can expect a variety of activities, including cultural dance performances, traditional games, craft demonstrations, and live performances by local Sabahan artist Zachkiddin Zachry.
“Visitors can also immerse themselves in Virtual Reality (VR) experiences that provide a glimpse into Sabah’s unique rural landscapes,” he said.
Visitors will also have opportunities to win exciting prizes through crossword puzzles, word searches, lucky draws, and the interactive Spin-the-Wheel sessions held throughout the day.
