KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is exploring a potential collaboration with University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) to provide training and certification for aspiring bird guides and other tourism-related professions.
UCSF members, led by its board of directors chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari, recently engaged in discussions with STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on various tourism-related ideas.
The discussions, among others, focused on community empowerment, particularly the need to upskill and reskill rural folk, as well as tapping into the growing potential of bird watching.
Present were STB chief executive director Julinus Jeffrey Jimit, UCSF Vice-Chancellor Dr Rafiq Idris and Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS) senior research associate Jesi Majungki.
Reaffirming STB's commitment to rural tourism, Joniston said the growing interest among rural communities and the critical need for courses that equip them with the skills necessary to succeed in the industry.
"Tourism should benefit all segments, not just five-star hotels. We definitely need skilled manpower in rural tourism.
"At STB, we welcome collaborations that align with our vision and empower the rural population," he said.
The meeting also included discussions on collaborating with IDS to conduct research on Sabah's tourism sector, with the aim of developing a comprehensive master plan.