SABAH RURAL TOURISM GAINS ATTENTION AT SCBTF 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair (SCBTF) 2024 here has received encouraging response, prompting a suggestion for a cruise ferry service connecting Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.

Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said increased accessibility is crucial for boosting tourism as a mean to enhance national integration.

“A cruise ferry service between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo could be a strategic initiative as a viable alternative to air travel, especially with rising airfares,” he said at the launch of the SCBTF at IOI City Mall Putrajaya on Saturday.

“Perhaps the Federal Government could consider establishing a cruise ferry service, similar to the Feri Muhibbah introduced in the 1980s,” added Joniston, who is also chairman of Sabah Tourism Board.

In the 1980s, the Feri Muhibbah was a link between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, designed to promote national integration.

As Malaysia’s first and largest government-owned cruise ferry, it played a crucial role in enhancing connectivity, though the service was eventually discontinued.

The development of Indonesia’s new capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara, in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo would make the reintroduction of such ferry cruise service even more relevant.

This year’s SCBTF is the sixth edition of the event and marks its first time being held outside of Sabah.

The fair, which runs from 16-20 October, features 27 tourism associations from 22 districts and five handicraft entrepreneurs.

Organised by the Sabah Tourism Board, it provides rural communities with a platform to promote their unique products to a broader audience.

The fair showcases the tourism offerings of Sabah’s rural communities, highlighting the state’s commitment to promoting eco-tourism, homestays, and cultural experiences.

Joniston said that 139,449 visitors travelled to rural destinations like Kadamaian and Kiulu last year, generating RM3.505 million in revenue, which could be higher with proper data collection.

Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffrey Jimit emphasised the board’s focus on training and capacity-building programs for rural communities operating tourism businesses to help them meet industry standards.

“The STB team is dedicated to supporting rural communities by providing essential guidance and resources for promoting our rural destinations domestically and internationally.

“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with local operators to enhance their visibility,” he said.

Present at the event were the Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Manoharan Periasamy; Head of Commercial, Central Region Sales of Malaysia Airlines, Nur Hayati Aziz Rashid; Second Secretary of the British High Commission in Malaysia, Robert Pepper; and Kiulu Tourism Association President Mejin Maginggow, who represented the SCBTF exhibitors.