KUDAT: Sabah's tourism authority has urged the government to expedite the installation of telecommunication towers in strategic rural areas in the state.
Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Internet connectivity is a necessity to promote digital marketing.
As such, the rural communities must upgrade their digital skills as this is the way forward.
He said this when speaking at a digital marketing training workshop for the Kampung Tajau Laut community here today.
Twenty villagers took part in the workshop, which was conducted by Hello Sabah under Sri Pelancongan Sabah, a subsidiary of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB).
"Internet marketing is more important than ever for the tourism business as clients can instantly check the latest deals, attractive pricing, and must-visit places.
"Digital marketing has become a need in today's competitive tourism market, and rural tourism players are no exemption.
"The rural community must embrace knowledge on information technology," said Joniston, who is also STB chairman.
He said STB was determined to provide basic digital training to the Tajau Laut community on the importance of social media and how to live and work in this digital world.
"There is a lot of tourism potential in Kampung Tajau Laut that could be turned into community-based tourism.
"We need more of such rural tourism destinations in Sabah to provide visitors with a unique experience.
"With the reopening of the country's international borders soon, rural communities must prepare to accommodate visitors.
"Hence, social media plays a critical role in introducing a new place or product to prospective visitors," he said.
During the workshop, participants were taught basic digital marketing skills such as how to open a business email account in order to set up an Instagram account. They were also taught on ways to use social media to reach out to a wider audience.