Sabah's rural tourism players are not giving up hope and are keeping their eco-tourism products intact in the hope that the industry will make a comeback in the future.

Despite the tourism slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, rural tourism operators are committed to keeping their community-based eco-tourism areas in good condition so that future visitors can visit.

Kisakot Eco-Tourism in Kampung Melangkap Tiong is one such location, where villagers are pooling resources to build several rest huts to improve the existing infrastructure facilities.

According to Walter Kandayon, chairman of the Kadamaian Tourism Association, Kisakot Eco-Tourism was one of more than 80 rural tourism operators in Kadamaian who had successfully obtained approval for an RM20,000 grant application under the Sabah New Deal.

The rural community tourism area near the river, which opened in May 2019, only had a mini hall and four huts.

“However, when the pandemic hit and the movement control order was imposed, the community lost their livelihood, and their 'tabung' (funds) were also empty.

According to Bangkuai, the Sabah New Deal was special financial assistance provided by the state government to tourism industry players affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

STB coordinates the Sabah New Deal grant assistance for tourism operators.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/08/sabah039s-rural-tourism-players-dig-in-stay-hopeful-for-post-pandemic-future

“The community had no money to maintain the facilities. When tourism activities reopened, we helped them to get the necessary assistance while the community themselves 'gotong-royong' to upgrade their eco-tourism site," said Kandayon.

He said that the Sabah New Deal grant has assisted the community and private tourism operators in Kadamaian in covering the costs of facility improvement works.

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, State Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister and Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), paid a visit to Kampung Melangkap Tiong to check on the progress of the upgrading works.

He also met with two Sabah New Deal grant applicants - Kisakot Eco-Tourism chairman Doihim Salantik and Bukit Pagapanan Nobou eco-tourism operator Domius @ Damius Talindap.