Kiulu’s Cittaslow bid to boost Sabah’s community-based tourism

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 15): Efforts to secure International Cittaslow recognition for Kiulu are expected to place Sabah and Malaysia on the global map for sustainable, community-driven tourism.

State Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the recognition would elevate Kiulu within the rural tourism segment while strengthening Sabah’s position as a model for community-based tourism.

“Kiulu already has strong community-based tourism. Cittaslow helps us organise these strengths into a recognised standard, improve consistency, and build stronger market confidence for both visitors and operators,” said the Kiulu assemblyman.

“This initiative will also benefit Sabah and Malaysia by promoting sustainable tourism, creating economic opportunities, and showcasing our culture, local agriculture and natural heritage to international visitors.”

Joniston was speaking after a recent meeting with Malaysia Talent Education and Industry-Academia Collaboration Association (M-TEIA) representative Pang Thou Chong, Kiulu Tourism Association president Meijin Manggingow, and a delegation from Nanhua University of Taiwan led by Assistant Professor Liang Yi-Tsung.

The Nanhua University team is in Kiulu from Jan 10 to 19 to conduct courses as part of broader efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s first International Cittaslow certification.

Under the partnership, Nanhua University’s Department of Tourism Management has deployed lecturers and students to work directly with the Kiulu community through workshops, demonstrations and on-site engagements.

The initiatives include assisting rural tourism operators in developing value-added culinary offerings using local produce such as cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes and citrus fruits, thereby enhancing product quality and the visitor experience in line with Cittaslow values.

Joniston said that the Cittaslow framework provides a clear structure for improving product quality, visitor management and community participation.

He added that the involvement of universities with proven experience helps accelerate local readiness through practical, on-the-ground implementation.

Nanhua University is recognised as a Friend of Cittaslow International and has extensive experience guiding communities in Taiwan through the International Cittaslow framework by integrating slow living, slow food and community-based economic models.

“From our assessment, Kiulu is already well aligned with most of the guidelines and now needs to focus on strengthening consistency and documentation to support certification,” Liang said, adding that efforts should emphasise sustainability and community economic empowerment through agriculture, nature and cultural activities.

Last year, M-TEIA proposed Kiulu for inclusion in the International Cittaslow network and linked STB’s community-based tourism initiatives with Taiwan’s Cittaslow Alliance.

In August, M-TEIA and STB co-organised an international exchange seminar in Kiulu, fostering knowledge sharing and strengthening ties with Nanhua University.

Following this, the Kiulu Tourism Association partnered with Nanhua University to launch a three-year training programme for 15 farmers, focusing on pineapple cultivation, product processing and agrotourism development.