Monday, May 18, 2009

Abundant tourism resources a boon for Sabah's Interior

NABAWAN: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan said that tourism can be the economic backbone of the rural community if the people were committed to venturing into the industry seriously.

He said, there were endless choices of tourism destinations and products with eco-tourism potential especially in the Interior area.

Pairin, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure Development, said that tourism not only gave profit to the stakeholders but also helped to boost the income of the rural communities.

“The presence of foreign tourists will surely stimulate the economy in the rural areas because they have more purchasing power,” he said at the opening of the Nabawan district-level Kaamatan celebration on Saturday.

Therefore, Pairin urged rural communities to venture into the tourism sector because it still had potential to thrive, especially in the rural areas. Pairin said that the tourism industry was very closely linked to the cottage industries because local handicrafts are very popular among tourists who buy them as souvenirs.

“When tourism is fully developed, it makes it easier for handicraft makers to promote and sell their craft to tourists.”

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