In The Borneo Post - 14 th April 2005

KOTA KINABALU: Albert CK Teo, founder of Sukau Rainforest Lodge, believes that a management committee should be set up to regulate tours being conducted in the Lower Kinabatangan , in particular Sukau.

The committee should comprise the Government, private sector as well as conservation bodies, he said.

Albert, who co-authored the book, entitled "Saving Paradise. The Story of Sukau Rainforest Lodge" with Canadian Carol Patterson, said this when met at the book launch yesterday by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Karim Bujang.

"I heard that the State Wildlife Department is in the process of setting up something similar to a management committee but we are in the dark about what is going to happen," he said.

"It is my hope that one day there I would be regulations, code of practice and enforcement," he said, adding that, Sukau should 'be regulated like Sipadan Island .

With the number of tourists visiting Sukau regulated, it would than be possible to claim that we have truly international ecotourism," he said. "If we can have that, we can increase tour rates and the Government can, by charging conservation and entrance fees, earn a revenue as well as finance the management committee.

"That way we can also ensure that the flora and fauna in Sukau would not disappear from the face of the earth, which is what this conference is all about and we want to make people understand that is not a threat, to them or to those whose livelihood is in the business," he said.

"With enforcement, there will be sustainability of business which is equally as important as sustainability of the wildlife.

Albert cautioned: "The tour operators must all understand that, otherwise we will be digging our own grave.?

In The New Sabah Times 14 th April 2005
By WATI SAMSIAR

KOTA KINABALU: The state government wants to see more investors and tourism operators investing in ecotourism products of quality and value.

This will not only protect and conserve the environment but also generate employment and spin?offs and economic benefits, especially to the rural communities.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said this in his speech at the launching of a book entitled Saving Paradise: The Story of 'Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL) here yesterday. The text of his speech was read by his deputy Datuk Karim Bujang.

Kah Kiat who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the success of Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL), for instance should be emulated by tourism operators so that Sabah would be known internationally for its quality ecotourism products.

"A critical stage in the development of the industry today lies in the need to find ways to self regulate its members and help them to toe the line," he added.

Towards this end, he said the industry needed to cultivate the best practices, develop benchmarks and promote high standards of development and services.

He cited that the SRL was developed as a model ecolodge in line with the state government's ecotourism objectives with WWF partners for Wetlands Vision for Ecotourism Development in the Lower Kinabatangan Floodplains.

It adopted an integrated and proactive approach to encourage preservation of habitat and biodiversity and sustainable use of resources through education and creating awareness among visitors, staff and the local community on conservation.

"At the same time, through best practices, the lodge shows efforts to minimise consumption, waste and pollution, and ensuring that local communities also derive benefits from the development," Kah Kiat said.

Thus, he said the efforts and achievements, of SRL had helped the Kinabatangan .Region earn an international reputation as a premier ecotourism icon.

"I have no doubt that this publication will further enhance the Kinabatangan region as a world class ecotourism product," he said of the book.

The book records the 10 year history of SRL, its achievements and the many challenges it faces.

The book contains recipes and ingredients that will serve as a guide to any ecotourism operator, local and international who wishes to invest in such a businesses and run a sustainable operation.

According to Kah Kiat, the private sector has also been active in developing the area for tourism, and in the past decade more than six lodges have been developed along the Kinabatangan River accordingly to meet demands for wildlife and ecotourism products.

On another note, Kah Kiat urged all operators especially those who operate lodges and tours in fragile environment, not only in Kinabatangan region, to be sensitive to the needs of such environment and ecosystems.

"Our nature resources, within the protected areas or outside, are the very assets on which the tourism industry in Sabah directly or indirectly is based," he said.

"Therefore, tourism players can help nurture the sustainable growth of the industry by adhering to good and ethical practices, by simply avoiding selfish short-term economic gains, and non-sustainable activities at the expense of our nature-based touristic resources and the industry as a whole," Kah Kiat said.