‘Sabah must harness potential as premier camping, outdoor destination’
by Nancy Lai · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (Feb 16): Sabah should take structured steps to fully harness its potential as a premier destination for camping and outdoor activities, said Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
The Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister called on the Sabah Camping and Caravanning Association to spearhead the effort by leveraging its membership in the World Camping Federation, while working closely with rural tourism operators.
“I understand that the Sabah Camping and Caravanning Association, in collaboration with community-based tourism (CoBT) operators, has identified more than 200 locations across Sabah that are suitable for development as campsites,” he said.
He was speaking when officiating the Tampasak Eco-Camp and Tagal Sondoton-Poimbolutan projects in Kampung Tampasak and Kampung Babagon here yesterday.
Joniston, also Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman, said Sabah’s emergence as a CoBT hub is driven by the active involvement of local communities in developing tourism attractions throughout the state.
This position is further strengthened by growing community participation in every district, with both small- and large-scale initiatives complementing each other and enriching Sabah’s rural tourism offerings, he added.
“Some may see this as competition, but we should also view CoBT as complementary. Rural communities offer different experiences because their landscapes, natural surroundings and ways of life differ from one district to another,” he said.
Joniston said in the context of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Visit Sabah Year 2027, there is a need more new tourism products to attract visitors and enrich their overall experience.
He said STB views CoBT as a vital component of the state’s tourism development, particularly in empowering rural communities.
“STB has a Product Unit that monitors all CoBT products and initiatives to ensure they meet required standards, while also providing continuous support to the communities involved.
“STB also provides the necessary training and upskilling programmes to empower communities, enabling them to manage and enhance their own tourism products,” he said.
In this regard, he urged all agencies, strategic partners and communities to continue working closely with STB to ensure that CoBT development is carried out sustainably.
“Continuous collaboration is crucial to ensure that these efforts deliver long-term benefits to local communities and the state’s tourism industry,” he added.