| Azaraimy HH |
LOCATED several kilometres from Pekan Tutong, Kampong Kiudang became the focal point of a visit yesterday, for tourism officials from the Asean sub-regional grouping (BIMP-EAGA), which highlighted some of the interesting places and products that can be found in the village.
The delegation was in the sultanate recently, for the 12th BIMP-EAGA Joint Development Cluster Meeting, from 14-16 September. The tour enabled the group to get a firsthand impression of Kampong Kiudang, which is one of the villages chosen for the Community-based Eco-tourism (CBET) under BIMP-EAGA.
The highlights of the visit included a demonstration of herbal tea manufacturing; viewing the personal collection and antiquities at Gallery Ariffin; the Islamic tourism concept and Jawi Calligraphy at the Kiudang Mungkom New Converts Welfare Body (BASKIM); experiencing the tranquility and beauty at the Wasai Bedanu Recreational Park; and a stop at some tangerine groves, produced by local farmers.
In an interview, the Tutong District Officer Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali expressed his confidence that the District’s tourism industry is set to develop further, following the launch of its community-based tourism initiative called “Destinasi Tutong”.
The delegates in a group photo. – AZARAIMY HH
The enterprise will bring together local producers, tourism players, tour operators, food and catering services, and other service providers into one table to promote the Tutong District as a tourism destination.
The Tutong District Officer also expressed the hope that the “Destinasi Tutong” initiative might yet be managed independently, as a company under the purview of the District Office. He added that this was the best way to make local tourism industry more organised, and create more opportunities for local employment.
In another interview, Ahmad Zaki bin Abu Bakar, the Director at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia in Sabah, expressed his satisfaction on the visit to Kampong Kiudang. He told the Borneo Bulletin that Kampong Kiudang had some good features, combining all the elements required for the tourism industry – nature, culture and small-cottage business.
“For me, the main uniqueness in the village, in addition to all these, is the Islamic tourism element, which I find very interesting and I can see that this area of tourism can be further developed,” he said.
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