KOTA KINABALU: Sukau, a tiny town in Sabah’s wildlife frontier of Kinabatangan, is receiving a boost to develop its tourism potential further.

       The state government has approved RM250,000 to upgrade and beautify the Sukau-Kinabatangan Tamu Square in a bid to attract more visitors to the site.

       The square is usually a “drive through” for visitors heading to various resorts and sanctuaries in the nature-rich area famous for its river cruises, Borneo pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys.

       State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the initiative would attract more people to the area and help enhance the local economy.

       “The ministry is also planning to turn the place into a stopover destination that offers products based on the arts and crafts and heritage of the local community.

       “The ministry and Kinabatangan district council are now planning to upgrade and beautify the area and its facilities,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       Previously, the square was used for various cultural programmes including the Damas festival organised by the ethnic Sungai community.

       Jafry said more permanent features for the square would boost the tourism potential in the area as local and foreign tourists had always been attracted to cultural performances.

       Sukau Kinabatangan is located about 130km from Sandakan.