Building community-based ecotourism: Sabah, Malaysia

Malaysian partners of the ADB and GEF-supported Coral Triangle Initiative - Southeast Asia project share their experiences in putting up a community-based ecotourism program in Kudat, Sabah. More information: “Kudat’s ecotourism program is unique because we go back to the basics. The villagers across five communities in Kudat (that is Inukiran, Bavang Jamal, Loro Kecil, Tajau Laut, and Banggi) run the tourism program themselves. We have this less is more approach. When others have skyscrapers and shopping malls we have mountains and rivers. When others have five star hotels we offer local’s homes and home-cooked meals. The villagers of Kudat have learned of ways to promote their craft, indigenous culture, and simple way of life. It’s a good distraction from the extractive kind of business the locals have been used to. It also lessens the pressure to Tun Mustapha Park. The locals have become less dependent on fishing and other practices that takes from the nature. Instead, they’ve been offering their kindn