Joniston Urges Coordinated Push to Develop Sabah as Premier Camping Destination

15 February 2026

KOTA KINABALU: A structured effort must be applied to fully harness Sabah’s potential as a camping and outdoor activities destination.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai hopes to see the Sabah Camping and Caravanning Association spearhead the initiative by leveraging its membership in the World Camping Federation and working closely with rural tourism operators.

“I understand that the Sabah Camping and Caravanning Association, in collaboration with Community-Based Tourism (CoBT), has identified more than 200 locations across Sabah suitable for development as campsites,” he said.

Joniston, who is also Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), said Sabah’s emergence as a CoBT hub has been driven by the active involvement of local communities in developing tourism attractions throughout the state.

This position is further strengthened by increasing community participation in every district, with both small- and large-scale initiatives complementing one another and enriching rural tourism offerings.

“Some may view this as competition, but we should also see CoBT as complementary, where rural communities offer distinct experiences shaped by their landscapes, natural surroundings and ways of life, which differ from one district to another.

“In the context of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Visit Sabah Year 2027, we need more new tourism products to attract visitors and enhance their overall experience,” he said.

He was speaking at the launch of Tampasak Eco-Camp and Tagal Sondoton–Poimbolutan in Kampung Tampasak and Kampung Babagon here on Sunday.

Also present were Moyog Community Development Leader Frankie Roy Benedict, representing Moyog State Assemblyman Datuk Donald Mojuntin, and Tampasak Eco-Tourism Chairman Winnie Joannes.

Joniston said STB views CoBT as a key component of the state’s tourism development, particularly in empowering rural communities.

“STB has a dedicated Product Unit that monitors all CoBT products and initiatives to ensure they meet required standards, while providing ongoing support to the communities involved.

“STB also provides the necessary training and upskilling programmes to empower communities, enabling them to manage and enhance their own tourism products,” he said.

In this regard, he urged all agencies, strategic partners and communities to continue working closely with STB to ensure that CoBT development is carried out sustainably.

“Continued collaboration is essential to ensure these efforts deliver long-term benefits to communities and to the state’s tourism industry,” he said.