By Olivia Miwil - May 23, 2022 @ 1:00pm
KOTA KINABALU: Local authorities in Sabah have been urged to organise "gotong royong" activities and look after cleanliness, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Jafry Ariffin.
In response to a recent article about the beaches in Kota Kinabalu being listed as one of the dirtiest beaches in the world, Jafry said there should be a culture among the public to conserve nature not only in the state capital but also in other places in Sabah.
"Our state is beautiful but in terms of cleanliness it is still not at a satisfactory level. There is still rubbish seen at sea and beaches due to the water movement.
"We have received complaints from non-governmental organisations about the dirtiness in most of the districts in Sabah.
"I have also received complaints from divers that plastics can be spotted underwater that could pollute the seas and kill the coral reefs and marine life," he said during a press conference after a briefing on community-based tourism programmes with district officers and district council executive officers, here.
Present were assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman.
Earlier, Jafry added that the government will always focus on rural tourism as it could generate new income and bring the community out of poverty.
By 2025, he said the Ministry hoped to make rural tourism in Sabah more competitive and world-class.
"Rural tourism has been given focus since 2014, we can see an increase in rural tourism operators and community-based tourism.
"Now, we have more than 500 operators throughout the State of Sabah and some have received international awards," he said, referring to Walai Penyu Conservation Park, Libaran, Kampung Batu Puteh in Kinabatangan and Kadamaian in Kota Belud.
Jafry said during the tabling of the 2022 State Budget, the Chief Minister had announced RM227.4 million for the tourism sector.
"The Chief Minister has also given emphasis to implement the Rural Tourism Development Programme to continue supporting facility development and rural tourism products."
He also added that there is a special committee involving his ministry, the Rural Development Ministry and Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry to develop the rural tourism industry effectively.
"These three ministries complement each other, whereby matters relating to rural tourism and facilities at tourist places are under the attention of my Ministry.
"We are working with the Rural Development Ministry in addressing matters related to infrastructure such as damaged and unpaved roads as this problem is one of the factors that prevent visitors from visiting rural destinations.
"We also work with the Agriculture Ministry in terms of developing the potential of agriculture-based tourism or agrotourism in rural areas."
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