Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jimit with Sir George Jessel, the author of Finding Jesselton.
LONDON: – The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) engaged in a constructive meeting with Sir George Jessel, the renowned author of Finding Jesselton, to discuss future collaborations to enhance Sabah’s heritage tourism.
The discussions centred on Jessel’s keen interest in opening a dedicated gallery to showcase the history of Jesselton and the North Borneo Company (NBC).
The meeting emphasised the necessity of finding a suitable location to house the gallery, to which Sir George also proposed seeking funding from the British Government to support this initiative.
“The history of the North Borneo Company is a significant part of our shared heritage, and we must have a dedicated space to celebrate and educate the public about this important era,” he stated.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of integrating all elements of North Borneo into a comprehensive tourism strategy, including heritage and educational tourism promotion.
The STB team had attended the three-day Global BirdFair 2024 in Rutland, which concluded on July 14, and took the opportunity to meet up with Sir George Jessel on Monday in London.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jimit welcomed such a proposal, stating that the initiative aligns with the board’s goals of promoting heritage and educational tourism in Sabah.
“Showcasing our unique history and culture will undoubtedly attract more tourists and provide invaluable educational opportunities, especially for the younger generation,” he said.
The discussion included promoting Jambatan Tamparuli, a historic level cross bridge, as a remarkable example of British architecture, with Sir George proposing collaborating with UK engineering universities to attract academic interest.
“The Sabah Tourism Board is eager to explore further collaboration opportunities with Sir George Jessel and British stakeholders.
“This promising collaboration can strengthen cultural ties and boost Sabah’s tourism by celebrating its historical heritage,” said Julinus, stressing this is significant to lure more visitors from the United Kingdom to Sabah, North Borneo.
