Joniston chairing the STB PRTC meeting on Tuesday. Also in the photo is STB CEO Julinus Jeffery Jimit.
KOTA KINABALU: Kiulu has been identified as a potential member of Cittaslow (Slow City), a global movement that promotes sustainable, community-driven development.
The proposal was highlighted at the 6th Annual Meeting of the Cittaslow Taiwan General Assembly in Dongyin, Taiwan, on Sept 5–6, and later presented to the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Product Rural Tourism Committee (PRTC) chaired by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister and STB Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on Tuesday.
During the PRTC meeting, members were informed that the Malaysia Talent Education and Industry-Academia Collaboration Association (M-TEIA) has nominated Kiulu as a candidate for the Cittaslow network. If approved, Kiulu would be the first Malaysian community to achieve this certification.
Cittaslow-certified towns and villages emphasise quality of life, environmental care, cultural authenticity and a slower pace of living.
M-TEIA has played a key role in linking the Cittaslow Taiwan Alliance with STB’s community-based tourism initiatives, fostering cross-border collaboration.
At the Taiwan assembly, STB Product Manager Effendi Mahany presented on “Sabah, Malaysia’s Premier Ecotourism Destination: A Unique Journey of Culture, Adventure, and Nature.”
“Being recognised in this way shows Kiulu is on the right path with our community-based tourism initiatives. It’s heartening to see our work gaining international attention,” said Joniston, who is also Kiulu Assemblyman.
He said the Cittaslow philosophy aligns with slow travel – encouraging visitors to stay longer, experience local culture, and connect with communities.
“This is something Sabah can build on, particularly in destinations like Kiulu, where slow and meaningful tourism can be positioned as a unique strength,” he added.
In August, M-TEIA worked with STB and the Kiulu Tourism Association to host an international exchange seminar in Kiulu, strengthening knowledge sharing and forging ties with Taiwan’s Nanhua University.
Following this, the Kiulu Tourism Association partnered with Nanhua University to launch a three-year training programme for 15 local farmers, focusing on pineapple cultivation, product innovation, and agro-tourism development.
Kiulu Tourism Association President Meijin Manginggow said such partnerships, supported by STB, empower communities to diversify into agro-tourism.
“Travellers today want more than sightseeing. They want to slow down, live village life, join farming activities, and experience how we practise sustainability. Even content creators are noticing – recently, a group from Hong Kong spent time in Kiulu to learn and share stories about our community,” he said.
