TAMBUNAN: The people must be aware of the existence of government projects which are meant to raise their socio-economic status, said Keningau MP Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

He said for instance, those who were living near tourist spots were enjoying the benefits from activities carried out by the government.

“This is the best way to improve the economy of an area and to provide opportunities for those keen to venture into the tourism industry,” he said when opening the Mahua Visitor and Research Centre at the Crocker Range, 18 km from Tambunan town Friday.

Pairin also hoped that more scientists and environmental experts would continue to conduct research at the centre to help in the Crocker Range’s preservation and development of tourism.

He added that the existing infrastructure and facilities like roads and car park should be upgraded to attract more tourists to this area.

Meanwhile the Chief Advisor of the Borneo Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation programme (BBEC) Takahisa Kusano said the programme was a joint effort between the Japanese and Malaysian government for a five-year period from 2002 until 2007.

The construction of the centre is funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the BBEC programme.

Takahisa said JICA had contributed some RM6 million for research equipment, computers, vehicles, among others for the centre project.

Among those present were Sabah Parks Director Datuk Lamri Ali, State Attorney General Bazain Idris, Keningau District Officer Michael Emban and Tambunan District Officer Steven Beliku.

Additionally farmers here have been told to venture into more lucrative ventures such as eco-tourism as a substitute for the traditional practice of shifting cultivation.

Pairin, who is the assemblyman for Tambunan, said the age-old practice would no longer be viable in the near future due to decreasing land space.

“As the population grows, there will be less space to do shifting cultivation like planting hill padi. When this happens we must seek an alternative to sustain our livelihood,” he said.

Eco-tourism he said was an appropriate choice because it was closely related to the environment.

Setting up the visitors centre was one such example that contributed towards eco-tourism because it allowed the locals to act as agents, tourist guides and souvenir shop operators to cater for tourists.

Pairin urged residents in the nearby villages of Patau, Narayat, Katagayan and Mahua to seize opportunities available from eco-tourism.

He said one way was to offer homestay to tourists in their villages so that many would come to visit the area.