KINABATANGAN: The Batu Putih Kinabatangan Bhd Sub-District Tourism Cooperative Bhd (KOPEL) community-based tourism has become an example for others to emulate.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Yusrie Abdullah said KOPEL is also one of the best tourism cooperatives to receive an allocation of RM4.2 million from the state Rural Development Ministry.
The fund was utilised to build facilities such as guest rooms, a restaurant and an operation office through the new millennium village sustainable rural project, he said.
His ministry, he said, has also allocated funds to renovate their tourist information centre and he hopes KOPEL's efforts will be a role model for other cooperatives and rural communities to emulate.
"I am also impressed with KOPEL's efforts for not only establishing a tourism destination but also setting up a conservation centre to replant trees.
"And recently they have also produced compost from the solid waste collected from daily discarded food waste, organic soaps and insect repellents which is something rare to us," he told reporters during a working visit to the Danau Girang Research Centre and KOPEL recently.
"I was informed, at first the local community strongly opposed KOPEL's intention to develop the village into a tourism product, but after seeing the results, now they are giving full support.
"The community-based tourism through the cooperative has enabled villagers to enjoy the fruits of success together and improve their livelihood."
The working visit to Kinabatangan was also part of the ministry's efforts to make sure tour operators are ready to welcome visitors to Sabah.
The state government has decided to allow inter-district travel from Oct 14 and interstate on Nov 1.
"Since Sabah has allowed the resumption of inter-district and interstate travel, I hope tourism operators will make the necessary preparations to handle the visitors," said Yusrie.
He reminded the tour operators to be vigilant and comply with the standard operating procedures as the Covid-19 pandemic is still in the midst.