Kota kinabalu: Villagers from five water villages on Gaya Island, about 10 minutes by boat ride from Kota Kinabalu, are participating in a community-based tourism initiative to turn their homes into vibrant tourism attractions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the efforts are spearheaded by the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO). He commended the organisation for actively engaging local residents to transform their living spaces into potential community tourism spots.

Joniston mentioned that the NGO, led by its president Michelle De La Harpe, briefed him on the progress of its ongoing project at Pulau Gaya, and that the villages are now working towards formal registration to form Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island. ‘This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. Developing community-based tourism on the Island will create value for the villagers, especially given its proximity to the city centre,’ he said in a statement today.

He emphasized the importance of fostering a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable tourism environment where local participation and ownership are key to this effort. Meanwhile, Michelle stated that their goal is to transform public spaces into vibrant, community-owned tourism attractions, adding that the project combines youth development, art, and environmental sustainability.