KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is actively encouraging the development of rural tourism operators during the Covid-19 pandemic.
State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the role of rural tourism industry players was very important at this time when his Ministry is giving attention to domestic tourism.
"The Ministry's move to focus on domestic tourism while waiting for the opening of our borders to international tourists would benefit rural tourism players.
"Rural tourism operators can be one of the main contributors to the state's economy, especially when the state government is focused on making tourism a new source of income for the rural population," he said in a statement.
Bangkuai, who also chairs the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), had recently visited Tambunan district to survey the potential of community-based tourism products and identified the problems faced by operators affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Tambunan, 30 eco-tourism and community-based tourism operators had successfully obtained approval for a special grant under the Sabah New Deal.
During his visit, Bangkuai also presented the Sabah New Deal special grant to 10 rural tourism operators in Kampung Solibog.
Overall, 507 recipients across the state were eligible to receive the state government financial assistance aimed at helping rural tourism industry players affected by the pandemic, to get back on their feet.
STB coordinated the distribution of the special assistance which involved a total allocation of RM10 million.
Bangkuai said the Ministry was actively encouraging the people to participate in the domestic travel bubble to help generate income for rural tourism operators while promoting attractive tourist spots despite the ongoing pandemic.
"Based on the report we received, there has been a sharp increase in visitors to tourist attractions in rural areas of late. We are confident and hope this trend will continue," he said.