By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Nature conservation can generate tourism income for Sabah while helping protect its forests from exploitation, said Datuk Jasnih Daya.
The Innoprise Corporation executive chairman said the Yayasan Sabah Group continued to perform well in its Borneo rainforest tourism operations despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The group’s involvement in nature conservation had contributed to higher returns this year, helping fund scholarships for suitable programmes for Sabahans, he said when opening the new Borneo Nature Tours (BNT) office at KK Times Square.
“The income is channeled back to the people of the state. This is the direction we are taking and we need to accelerate it,” he said.
He said the State Government was looking to build more medical facilities and open a new university and the National Heart Institute (IJN), which would require more funds.
“We cannot keep asking from the State Government. We have to be self-reliant,” he said.
He said the group’s palm oil, tourism and energy sectors would work together to support its growth strategy.
He said Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) had brought good returns to the group and the new office would help grow income from forest conservation and protect forests in their original state.
He said forest conservation was becoming increasingly important, with Western and some Asian countries already developing carbon credit programmes.
“This is something we would like to engage in. In order to preserve, we can also monetise it,” said Jasnih.
BNT chief executive officer Freddie Coleman said the Yayasan Sabah Group’s conservation efforts, including carbon credits and wildlife protection, would be explained to visitors at BRL.
He said tourist arrivals remained high and 10 more rooms were being added, bringing the lodge’s total to 40, the limit allowed in the conservation area.
“It is now peak season and we have customers already booked in advance for next year. We hope the war does not affect flights and airfares. Our tours and activities remain intact,” he said.
He said most visitors were from Europe and America, attracted by the Borneo rainforest as a natural destination on their bucket lists.
He added that while the conservation area had no camping site for visitors, camping was available for educational purposes at the Danum Valley Study Centre.
He said visits to Danum Valley were sold at a premium price, but affordable packages were available to Malaysians from November to February.
“Take this opportunity to get the package because it is almost 50 per cent off while offering the same quality,” he said.
He said the offer was available during the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) fairs in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.
Jasnih and Freddie (10th and 13th from left), launch BNT’s new office.
