Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair

Most of us have heard about the MATTA Fair, but have you heard about the Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair? This is one of the unique tourism fairs that takes place here in Kota Kinabalu.

This community-based tourism fair was held from November 17 to 19, 2023, at the Suria Sabah Shopping Mall in Kota Kinabalu City.

Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair

The unique travel fair is also running for the fifth year. It was organised by the Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah (FeRTAS) and Sabah Tourism Board and was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The event in Kota Kinabalu.

This year, a special B2B session was organized, during which 12 tour operators under FeRTAS engaged in a Business-to-Business session with key industry players from the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta), Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta), and Sabah Tourist Association (STA).

Who are the Rural Tourism Operators in Sabah?

Nabalu Tourism Association
Kadamaian
Kota Marudu
Lahad Datu
Kiulu
Keningau
Tambunan
Tenom
Penampang
Kuala Penyu
Ranau
Kota Belud

sabah-community-based-tourism-fair Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair

An elder demonstrates some craftwork at the fair.

This year’s Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair featured 40 booths, including participation from various tourism associations and ministries.

For the first time, the Federal Territory of Labuan and neighbouring Brunei participated, hoping to create community-based tourism across borders.

nabawan-tourism-association Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair

Nabawan Tourism Association at the fair.

Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair 2023 Activities

The three-day event will host various activities, including talks by multiple organisations and government departments. Cultural dance performances, traditional games, musical instrument displays, and cooking demonstrations will also occur.

Talks were conducted by;

FeRTAS
Sabah Homestay Association
Sabah Handicraft Center
Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation
Ministry of Agriculture
Fisheries and Food Industry
Sabah Parks

community-based-tourism-fair Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair

The Community Based Tourism Fair poster.

If you are interested in this unique experience, you can also get more information about community based tourism in Sabah, which I did in 2023 when I visited most of the rural communities around Sabah.

For first-time visitors to this part of Malaysia, you can also visit the Sabah Tourism website for further information about tourism around Sabah.

Conclusion

If you missed this year’s Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair, you can look forward to the next one in 2024, which is scheduled to be bigger and have more participants. It will also be held, most likely in Kota Kinabalu.

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