KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s community-based tourism has piqued the interest of the Malaysian Inbound Chinese Association (MICA), with the association aiming to introduce the concept to people in Peninsular Malaysia.

       MICA president Datuk Angie Ng said the community-based tourism concept was relatively new to them and MICA intended to include it in its Sabah destination packages.

       "We are very excited to have learnt about this concept during our visit here.

       "The (rural) community is very educated about the environment and we feel Sabah is good for those in Peninsular Malaysia to explore this year," she said.

       She said MICA would be utilising the many digital platforms available to promote Sabah and other states, both domestically and internationally, with the goal of establishing a travelling exchange programme.

       Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the state was constantly highlighting its rural destinations for their unique tourism offerings that could not be found elsewhere.

       He said the "tagal" system, for example, was an interesting concept combining culture and the need to protect the environment.

       This system was when an area, for example a river or forest, was off limits for any hunting activities for a period of time during the year to allow for fish and wildlife to grow and breed.

       It would be opened up to members of the tagal community or to visitors only once or twice a year, depending on the area.

       "Many rural communities in Sabah initiated a tagal system in their respective villages, which has become quite a popular attraction among visitors," Bangkuai said at the MICA networking event here on Monday (Jan 10).

       "Sabah is indeed very strong on the concept of community-based tourism, and I have always believed that the jewel of tourism is in the rural areas, with its rich flora and fauna, culture, and friendly people," he said.

       He expressed his happiness that MICA was helping to promote Sabah to fellow Malaysians in the peninsula as they were now potential visitors, as well as to the China market.

       Prior to the event, MICA members visited parts of Sabah and toured several popular attractions to be more familiar with Sabah’s tourism products, including a community-based tourism spot in Kundasang where they experienced natural fish spas and the tagal system.

       They shared their fish spa experience on social media, which piqued the interest of Malaysians as well as their Chinese followers.

       MICA has selected Sabah to be its first destination in 2022 in itss "Foliday" campaign for the domestic market.

       According to MICA, Foliday focuses of 4 'F's - Family, Friends, Fun, and Freebies.

       Commending MICA's efforts, Bangkuai said there was a need for the tourism industry to come up with innovative ideas and services such as rebranding tourist attractions to appeal to locals as well as repricing hotel rooms.

       "To survive and thrive during the downturn, the industry needs to be creative and innovative to discover new value propositions.

       "Until borders are completely open, domestic tourism will be the primary driver of the travel industry," he said.

       He emphasised that the Sabah Tourism Board had implemented various measures, including travel incentives and promotional campaigns, to boost and entice domestic tourism.