KOTA KINABALU: Traveloka, Indonesia’s fastest-growing tech company, is interested in collaborating with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to enhance the worldwide promotion and marketing of rural community tourism products in the state, according to Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
The Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister of the state conveyed his intentions during the launch of the Tame Fish Ecotourism Family Day in Kampung Tiong Melangkap on Wednesday (Oct 25).
He discussed the potential collaboration with the founder of Traveloka at the recent United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
“This is an encouraging development as it reflects their recognition of the vast potential in our sustainable community tourism initiatives,” stated the STB chairman.
“With Traveloka’s wealth of experience, I believe they can play a crucial role in advancing our community tourism initiative,” he added.
Traveloka Co-Founder Albert Albert and its vice president Widya Listyowulan reached out to Bangkuai after he proposed a collaboration with UNWTO members in developing and promoting rural tourism.
Established in 2012, Traveloka has quickly become a leading technology company in Southeast Asia, offering an extensive online platform for travel and lifestyle services.
Notably, they currently have a large network of over 150 community-based tourism operators on their platform
To kickstart the collaboration, Bangkuai has requested the Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah (Fertas) to identify and compile a list of 50 community tourism operators renowned for their exceptional facilities and services.
He mentioned that these operators will form the initial phase of the proposed collaboration.
“We are eager to engage in further discussions with Traveloka, and I believe we should explore opportunities to support rural communities and enhance the visibility of their tourism products.
“This approach can significantly expand the exposure of rural communities to a broader and more diverse audience.
“Placing their offerings on a well-known platform like Traveloka opens the door to potential tourists who may not have otherwise discovered these rural experiences in Sabah,” Bangkuai said.
In turn, he urged all rural community tourism operators, including those in Kampung Melangkap Tiong, to maintain their commitment and showcase their unique creativity in promoting their respective areas while continuously improving their customer service to achieve excellence.
“Rural tourism players must constantly strive to enhance their services and facilities to the highest possible standard,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Bangkuai encouraged other community-based tourism and rural tourism operators to follow the example of Melangkap Tiong Tame Fish Eco-Tourism in achieving success and receiving ASEAN-standard and national-level recognitions.
The Melangkap Tiong Eco-Tourism is among the top community-based tourism destinations in Sabah, generating a monthly income of up to RM20,000.
Its chairman Domius Salindap shared that this revenue source enables the provision of critical financial assistance to villagers for expenses related to unfortunate events such as death, hospitalization, and education, with assistance ranging from RM200 to RM500.
