Need for action committee to support Tongod rural tourism development – Jafry Ariffin

TONGOD: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin has called for the setting up of a Tongod District Tourism Action Committee to support rural tourism development efforts, especially community-based tourism.
In making the call, he said the committee would also assist the ministry in planning and implementing development programmes, including upgrading basic tourism infrastructure to be more viable and competitive.
“Besides, it will provide facilities, especially to local and foreign tourists, to obtain information on the uniqueness of every available tourist attraction in the district,” he said in a statement here today.
In the meantime, he also encouraged villagers to develop potential tourism products in their respective areas.
“To date, the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has approved at least 12 small projects, with each costing under RM20,000, in the Tongod district.
This includes the project to upgrade Chinese Heritage House, which is usually used as the venue for the Chinese cultural heritage and history exhibition,” he said.
Jafry said Tongod District Council had also received an allocation of RM40,000 ringgit for the upgrading of the “Heart of Borneo” monument, which is a landmark for the district.
 — BERNAMA