Joniston meeting with tourism operators and members of the Kiulu Tourism Association.
KIULU: Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has praised the unity and collaboration of the Kiulu community for transforming the constituency into a benchmark for community-based tourism (CoBT), not only in Sabah but nationwide.
He highlighted that the joint efforts of villagers, tourism operators, and local associations have strengthened Kiulu’s reputation as a leading example of sustainable rural tourism while creating real economic opportunities for the community.
“What makes Kiulu remarkable is not just its natural beauty but the unity of its people,” he said during a dialogue session with around 80 tourism representatives from the Kiulu Tourism Association.
“I encourage the community to continue developing tourism products that add value, to plan for Kiulu’s tourism growth, particularly through agro-tourism initiatives, and to continue efforts to internationalise Kiulu’s offerings,” he added.
Present at the dialogue were Kiulu Tourism Association President Meijin Maginggow and STB Product Unit Assistant Manager Christina Wong.
Joniston, who is the incumbent Kiulu Assemblyman and in his final week as STB Chairman, affirmed that the Board will continue supporting and empowering rural tourism communities, particularly in promoting locally driven initiatives.
“Leadership may change, but our commitment remains. I am confident that STB will continue partnering with communities like Kiulu to guide, empower and ensure tourism growth continues in a sustainable, inclusive and internationally recognised way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Meijin lauded Joniston’s years of dedication to developing rural community tourism in Kiulu, noting that his leadership has turned local aspirations into tangible achievements.
“In the past, tourism was only a dream. Today, we are living it, and the community is reaping the benefits. Without Datuk Joniston’s early efforts, Kiulu might still be relying solely on private companies,” said Meijin, adding that CoBT initiatives have so far generated over 400 job opportunities.
Joniston is expected to defend the Kiulu state seat in the upcoming State Election, with nomination day on 15 Nov and polling day on 29 Nov.
