TUARAN: The Kiulu River that runs through many villages in the sub-district of Kiulu, is like the Nile for the locals.
It was major attraction for white-water rafting for the past 15 years but now there has been economic spin offs especially related to tourism.
Some 60 km away from the state capital Kota Kinabalu, the crystal clear Kiulu river offers a peaceful environment with its serene and cooling surroundings.
The Nile River is the lifeline of Egypt and other African countries upstream.
Besides, the fish habitat in the river is also maintained through the Tagal System, a fish and environmental conservation effort, which was started by the residents along the river, leading to added tourism activities.
The tourism industry in Kiulu, which started on a small scale 20 years ago, is now flourishing with higher participation of rural tourism operators, comprising local residents, said Kiulu Tourism Association (KTA) president, Dr Edmond Guntis.
“Tourism development in Kiulu is now influenced by several factors including the involvement of locals in the field of rural tourism, which is very encouraging due to the natural beauty of the Kiulu river and that has provided opportunities for the locals to become tour operators.
“Therefore, the association welcomes more residents from the more than 100 villages in Kiulu to jointly become a part of this industry that clearly benefits, especially in terms of economic prosperity,” he told Bernama recently.
In addition, he said the rural tourism sector in Kiulu now was providing permanent jobs for the local populace.
Meanwhile, Sabah Ulu Kiulu Mukim Ecotourism Solution and Technology Society (MUKEST) deputy chairman, Lodimun Balantis said the development of the tourism sector in the Kiulu area has been a catalyst to improve the economic status of the locals.
“It cannot be denied that the beauty and richness of the environment in Kiulu, especially the breath-taking and unpolluted river, are the major factors for the expanding tourism sector in Kiulu,” he said.
Lodimun added that many foreign investors came to invest in some villages in Kiulu as they were attracted by the beauty of the environment and it being a popular tourist draw.
For example, he said, Borneo Eco Tours has set up a tourism centre in Kampung Mantob, Ulu Kiulu, which now provides jobs for the local community.
Kiulu, which is located in the Tuaran area, is 647 square kilometres big and has 105 villages. It is the biggest state constituency in the Tuaran parliamentary constituency.
With a population of over 50,000 people, the majority being from the Kadazandusun community, the area is popular as a rural tourism destination, especially for nature-based river activities. – Bernama
