S’wak cooperatives must unite to build stronger eco-tourism value chain, says Deputy Premier

Malcolm (fifth right) representing Awang Tengah to officiate the closing ceremony of the Knowledge Sharing Programme titled “Cooperative Eco-Tourism: From Nature to Community Economy” held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on July 7, 2026.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 7: Agricultural, tourism, retail and handicraft cooperatives in Sarawak should no longer operate independently but instead forge integrated collaborations to establish stronger value chains within local communities and seize growing opportunities in the eco-tourism sector.

Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said a more strategic and interconnected cooperative ecosystem would enable communities to maximise the economic benefits generated by tourism while ensuring that value created within the industry continues to circulate locally.

“Cooperatives must move beyond traditional business models and leverage opportunities in the eco-tourism sector through strategic and integrated partnerships,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony of the Knowledge Sharing Programme titled “Cooperative Eco-Tourism: From Nature to Community Economy” held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.

His speech text was red by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.

Awang Tengah said agricultural cooperatives, for instance, could supply fresh produce to chalets and homestays through the Farm-to-Table concept, while retail and handicraft cooperatives could promote and market community products at tourism destinations.

“This approach will not only increase cooperative income but also strengthen the local economy in a sustainable manner,” he said.

He emphasised that the cooperative movement has significant economic strength to contribute towards development, with more than 16,468 cooperatives nationwide involving 7.33 million members, assets exceeding RM186.75 billion and annual revenue of more than RM81 billion.

With this strength, he said cooperatives must play a bigger role in supporting sustainable development, particularly in sectors such as eco-tourism and community-based tourism.

Awang Tengah highlighted that tourism remained one of the key drivers of economic growth, creating employment opportunities, attracting investment and stimulating the growth of small and medium enterprises, while providing spillover benefits to sectors including transportation, hospitality, agriculture, handicrafts and the community economy.

“Sarawak is truly fortunate to possess world-class natural assets such as Gunung Mulu, Niah, Bako, Batang Ai and Loagan Bunut. These advantages must be sustainably leveraged through biodiversity conservation, enhancement of tourism facilities, and efforts to secure international recognition such as the Sarawak Delta UNESCO Global Geopark,” he said.

In Sarawak, he said tourism was among the strategic sectors under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), with the State aiming to become an internationally recognised eco-tourism destination through active community participation in preserving cultural heritage and natural resources.

Sarawak recorded 4.97 million visitor arrivals in 2025, generating an estimated RM12.67 billion in tourism revenue, reflecting continued confidence in the State as a safe, quality and competitive destination.

He said the Sarawak Tourism Master Plan 2020–2035 places strong emphasis on eco-tourism and community-based tourism, allowing local communities to benefit through homestays, handicraft enterprises, creative industries and other local economic activities.

Awang Tengah further stressed the importance of human capital development, saying programmes such as the Knowledge Sharing Programme provide valuable platforms to enhance knowledge, skills and networks among cooperatives to strengthen their role in eco-tourism development.

He also called on cooperatives to embrace digital transformation by adopting the Smart Tourism concept, strengthening online marketing, utilising cashless payment facilities such as S PAY Global, and implementing systematic visitor data management systems to improve operational efficiency and visitor experience.

“The completion of this programme does not mark the end of our responsibility. Instead, it is the beginning of efforts to strengthen cooperation and translate the knowledge gained into actions that benefit society,” he said.

Awang Tengah expressed confidence that with good governance, cooperation, innovation and readiness to adopt technology, the Sarawak cooperative movement could become a leading example of community-based tourism development at national and international levels. — DayakDaily