Set against the backdrop of Mount Kinabalu, Kampung Terintidon in Kadamaian here has all the potential to develop into a tourist village noted for its clean environment and upbeat vibe.

The village, which is a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, has shown great community effort and camaraderie, which can enthral visitors that come to explore the countryside.

The villagers have taken it upon themselves to plan tourism activities in such a way that visitors can take a stroll through the entire hamlet, stopping at various points to take in the sights and sounds.

To facilitate this initiative, Kampung Terintidon is divided into seven community groups, each with its own committee charged with maintaining harmony, and cleanliness, and encouraging the development of various tourism-related activities like adventure, culture, agriculture, education, food, and handicraft.

Recently, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai visited Kampung Terintidon to check out the tourism opportunities.

He was accompanied by the Federation of Rural Tourism Association of Sabah (FeRTAS) president cum Kadamaian Tourism Association president Walter Kandayon, and Kadamaian Community Development leader Demis Rumanti.

“I am impressed with the unity shown by villagers in the effort to beautify and develop the village to its full potential. The addition of tourism-related activities would further invigorate this village and position it as a must-visit rural tourism destination.

“The Sabah Tourism Board is always willing to assist rural communities in growing their tourism potential, and I hope that Kampung Terintidon will serve as a model for other communities to emulate,“ said Joniston.

He also encouraged the community to work with the Sabah Tourism product team to effectively package the rural village to promote it to both locals and tourists.

Kampung Terintidon was praised for its cleanliness drive during a recent Board meeting focusing on rural tourism, following a proposal by FeRTAS to run a cleanup campaign in rural villages.

According to Walter, the success of Kampung Terintidon’s initiatives to clean up their particular village with community engagement has motivated FeRTAS to lead the drive to free rural communities of rubbish by 2025.

This fits with the goal and plans to make Sabah a world-class destination for rural tourism by 2030.

If the clean-up objective is met, Walter said rural communities will be modernised into a desirable place to live and visit, complete with amenities like toilets that meet international standards.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by THE BORNEO POST

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