KOTA KINABALU: Sukau, a tiny town in Sabah's wildlife frontier of Kinabatangan, has received a boost to develop its tourism potential further.

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

       Most tourists usually bypass the town on their way to the various resorts and sanctuaries in the nature-rich area that is famous for its river cruises, Borneo pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys.

       State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the idea was to develop a permanent square that would help attract more people to the town and enhance the local economy.

       He said the ministry was also planning to turn the place into a stopover that offered products based on 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 on Thursday (Jan 6).

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

       Jafry was confident that more permanent features at the square would boost the tourism potential of the area as cultural performances previously attracted both local and foreign tourists prior to the pandemic shutdowns.

       Sukau Kinabatangan is located about 130km from Sandakan.