Sabah, Sarawak urged to boost cultural tourism collaboration
Joniston with Jabu (second right) and Pairin (third right) during a visit to Koisaan Cultural Village in Penampang.
PENAMPANG (April 22): Sabah and Sarawak should further strengthen collaboration in cultural tourism to highlight Borneo's shared heritage, said Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said both states have strong potential to jointly promote Borneo as a seamless travel experience through cultural trails, visit exchanges and community-based attractions.
'Sarawak's tagline is 'Gateway to Borneo', but ideally, we want visitors to enter Sarawak and end their journey in Sabah,' Joniston quipped, adding that the focus should be on connection, not competition, by packaging attractions across both states as part of a unified Bornean experience.
Joniston made the remarks during a visit by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, who led community leaders from Betong to the Koisaan Cultural Village at the Hongkod Koisaan here today.
Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) president Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan was also present.
Joniston, who is also chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board, said both governments should explore structured collaboration in cultural preservation and community development through joint programmes and cross-border initiatives.
'There is a growing need to empower our community through heritage, not just to preserve culture, but to turn it into economic opportunity, especially in rural areas,' he said.
He also suggested policy support for cultural entrepreneurship and youth driven innovation rooted in indigenous knowledge.
Sharing similar views, Jabu said Sarawak is open to deeper collaboration, particularly in organising reciprocal cultural visits and joint youth engagements.
'As neighbouring states, we should be working more closely. Our cultures are quite similar, and it makes sense to have more frequent exchanges,' he said.
'In fact, I'd like to invite KDCA to join us in celebrating a cultural festival this June in my constituency,' said the Layar assemblyman.
Jabu also noted his ongoing engagement with Sabahan students in Sarawak, especially at UNIMAS, where he regularly encourages them to participate in cultural events to stay in touch with their heritage.
In welcoming the Sarawak visitors, Pairin said Sabah and Sarawak share similar aspirations, and as such initiatives that could bring the two neighbouring States closer need to be intensified.
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