KOTA KINABALU: Community-based rural tourism operators in Sabah can diversify their income sources by engaging in the cooperative sector, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said community-based rural tourism operators already have an organised committee structure that can be used when they set up a cooperative.
He said community-based tourism operators should not limit themselves to running tourism businesses only.
"Through cooperatives, it is easy for all members to apply for certain assistance, especially from the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives," he said in a statement today (Apr 25).
He also suggested that existing rural cooperatives in Sabah expand their business focus to tourism, which is one of the state's main revenue earners and the core of the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan.
He said his ministry and the Sabah Tourism Board will cooperate with the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry to guide cooperatives and community tourism operators who want to get involved in cooperatives. – BERNAMA