A vibrant transformation is taking place on Gaya Island, where water villages are turning into tourism attractions through a community-driven effort.
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai praised the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively engaging Gaya Island residents in reimagining their homes as potential community-based tourism destinations.
This follows Joniston’s initial meeting with the group in 2022, during which he encouraged the adoption of a community-based tourism model to ensure stronger local involvement and shared economic benefits.
Joniston, who also chairs the Sabah Tourism Board, said the initiative supports the state’s commitment to sustainable tourism, especially through attractions that reflect Sabah’s identity and culture.
On Tuesday, Meraki Daat Initiative president Michelle De La Harpe led a team to brief Joniston on the progress of Project Picasso, which aims to revitalise the water villages by turning them into Instagram-worthy destinations through art.
The project involves painting stilt houses and collaborating with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these unique communities.
In June, the Sabah Tourism Board organised a workshop that brought together five Gaya Island villages: Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan and Kampung Pondoh.
Joniston was informed that the villages are now moving toward formal registration under the name Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island.
“This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell,” Joniston said.
“Developing community-based tourism here will create value for the villagers, especially given the island’s proximity to the city centre.
“However, it’s vital to foster a cleaner, safer and more sustainable tourism environment. Local participation and ownership are key to this effort.”
At the meeting, Joniston also launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition, themed Ocean Creatures, to encourage creative community involvement and further beautification of the villages.
Michelle said the project’s aim is to transform public spaces into vibrant, community-owned tourism attractions while integrating youth development, art and environmental sustainability.
“We are currently constructing a 200-metre pathway to the volleyball court using eco-bricks made from recycled plastic waste. This innovation won the United Nations Development Programme’s Island Waste Innovation Challenge last year,” she said.
The art competition runs from 30 June to 31 July 2025, with judging scheduled for 1–7 August. Site painting will take place from 20–27 August, and the official launch and mural unveiling is set for 31 August.
Updates on the initiative are available via the Meraki Daat website at www.merakidaat.org and on their social media platforms.
