Joniston with Kampung Tengkurus community involved in operating Mindakod Eco-Tourism site.
KOTA BEDLUD: Kadamaian continues to be a trailblazer in rural tourism development with the opening of yet another tourist attraction.
The community in Kg Tengkurus here has come together to open a camping ground with river recreational activities, including learning about the traditional tagal system and hiking as the main attractions.
Calling the area Mindakod eco-tourism, its chairman Yonggoi Andah said the tourism initiative involved the participation of 48 families.
“We have heard many villages in Kota Belud have started operating community-based tourism and are doing very well. This has encouraged us to start ours,” he said.
Despite still being in its infancy, the Mindakod eco-tourism is already receiving a steady stream of campers and hikers, especially on weekends.
Officiating the tourism initiative, Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the opening of the Mindakod eco-tourism shows that Kadamaian has lived up to the expectation as a pilot for rural tourism development.
Present were Federation of Rural Tourism Associations Sabah (Fertas) President Walter Kandayon, Kadamaian Community Development Leader Demis Rumanti and Mindakod eco-tourism adviser Datuk Awadnir Matanggap.
Joniston, who is also Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman, noted that there are now more than 80 tourism operators in Kadamaian, most of which are community-based.
The aggressive development of rural tourism is part of the State government’s effort to economically empower rural communities.
