Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Creative Folks Art and Industry Association (Seri) pledged to revive rural tourism products across Sabah, particularly ecotourism destinations that are facing risk of being forgotten and struggling to survive.
Its President Mariati Uttok, said it has identified Tambunan to be part of its broader mission to involve this latest initiative in its four-day Sabah Open Nature Experience 2026 at Widu Resort and Kawang-Kawang Canyon in the district, recently.
She said Seri is promoting the two rural ecotourism destinations in Tambunan that are struggling to remain competitive despite their rich natural and cultural assets.
“We decided not to promote urban tourism products as many are already well-established as well as those in Kundansang and Ranau. But, this time, we want to fight for rural communities and ensure their rural tourism products especially the struggled ones so that the benefits are shared more equally.
“Our first initiative was in Kota Belud, and this time, we selected Tambunan as our second stop under Seri’s rural tourism initiative via our new program, Sabah Open Nature Experience 2026 for four days.
“We chose Tambunan as this district is often referred to as the `Switzerland of Sabah’ due to its unique combination of natural treasures of attractions, impressive landscape, heritage and cultural diversity that still need greater exposure,” Mariati said.
Tourism Malaysia sponsored the programme Seri is the main organiser.
Also present were Tourism Malaysia Sabah Deputy Director Khairul Amir Anuar, local content creators and American travel influencer Terry Pernell.
Mariati said the NGO chose Widu Resort and the Kawang-Kawang ecotourism community as the focal points for this year’s programme after observing that several ecotourism operators in Tambunan were gradually losing prominence.
“Along a single road, there are three ecotourism products but we selected only two, namely Widu Resort and Kawang-Kawang Canyon, while another ecotourism product, located at the border of Tambunan and Ranau, was not included in the programme.
“We came to Tambunan to help create balance and strengthen the ecosystem so that all the rural tourism players in the district can benefit, and not just from one destination,” she said.
Mariati described Widu Resort, established 15 years ago and owned by Linus Gonsilau, as one of Tambunan’s earliest ecotourism pioneers that deserves renewed attention.
“There are several resorts in Tambunan whose ecotourism potential needs to be better known. But we chose Widu as it was the pioneer of ecotourism in Tambunan and needs to be promoted.
“Widu offers tourists scenic natural surroundings, while visitors can sleep in beds made from bamboo to experience living with natural elements. Hence, Seri aims to help strengthen the resort’s management and reposition it within Sabah’s tourism landscape alongside other community-based tourism initiatives,” she said.
Mariati said the four-day programme was being organised as Sabah’s first Integrated Cross-Culture and Ecotourism Gathering, bringing together 30 participants from the tourism and creative industries.
She said the participants comprised travel and tour operators, tour guides, rangers, content creators, media bloggers and production personnel selected in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia.
“The participants were chosen specifically by Tourism Malaysia for their ability to amplify the programme’s reach and promote rural tourism products through their respective platforms.
“We have engaged two local content creators, including Sam Kinabalu, and one international travel influencer from the US, Terry Pernell, to record their experiences through their social media accounts.
“The activities include cultural showcases, traditional food and dance performances, and demonstrations of handicraft and hunting tool-making, as well as nature-based experiences such as canyoning, river trekking, jungle trekking and hiking,” she said.
In addition, Mariati said participants were encouraged to wear their traditional attire as part of a cross-cultural exchange aimed at highlighting Sabah’s diverse heritage and cultural traditions.
She said Tambunan was the second stop under Seri’s rural tourism initiative, following Kota Belud, with Sipitang among the next locations being considered under the west coast tourism circuit.
Seri also plans to expand the initiative to six rural districts in Sabah as part of efforts to support the Visit Sabah 2027 campaign, she added.
“We will be preparing an upcoming event, Mystical Bayu 2.0 2026, which will be held in Tungku, Lahad Datu, in November, where more than 500 participants are expected to take part in an attempt to enter the Malaysia Book of Records.
“The objective remains the same — to ensure Sabah’s lesser-known tourism products are not left behind and to give rural communities the recognition they deserve,” she said.
